title: Telenursing intervention increases psychiatric medication adherence in schizophrenia outpatients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Promoting medication adherence is a critical issue in optimizing both physical and mental health in persons with schizophrenia. Average antipsychotic medication adherence is only 50%; few studies have examined nonpsychiatric medication adherence. Psychosocial interventions with components of problem solving and motivation have shown promise in improving adherence behaviors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examines telephone intervention problem solving (TIPS) for outpatients with schizophrenia. TIPS is a weekly, provider-initiated, proactive telenursing intervention designed to help persons with schizophrenia respond to a variety of problems, including adherence problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors completed objective measures of adherence to psychiatric and nonpsychiatric medications in 29 community-dwelling persons with schizophrenia, monthly for 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persons receiving TIPS had significantly higher objective adherence to psychiatric medications throughout the study period, F(1, 20) = 5.47, p = .0298.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should consider using TIPS as an adjunct to face-to-face appointments to support adherence in persons at risk. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc, 2008; 14(3), 217-224. DOI: 10.1177/1078390308318750.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee College of Nursing, lbeebe1@utk.edu.
authors.forename: Lora Humphrey
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.forename: Kathlene
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crye
authors.forename: Caryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Addonizio
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Strunk
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poche