title: Effect of mental health nurses' beliefs and knowledge of medication on their use of strategies to improve medication adherence.
abstract: Despite the proven efficiency of medication for mental illness, research indicates low patient adherence to medication. Nonetheless, only few studies have directly examined the relationship between nurse beliefs and knowledge, and their use of strategies to improve patient adherence to psychiatric medication. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to clarify nurses' views, beliefs about, and knowledge of psychiatric medication affect their inclination to implement various strategies to improve patient adherence. One hundred nurses working at an Israeli psychiatric hospital participated in the study. Self-completed questionnaires were distributed. The research findings showed that nurses' levels of knowledge of psychiatric medication were moderate, but their beliefs of taking psychiatric medication were positive. The findings also showed that the higher the nurses' age and seniority, as well as their positive beliefs about taking medication, the higher their probability of implementing strategies to improve patient adherence to medication. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between positive beliefs about the nursing staff on taking medication and the staff's utilization of strategies to improve patient adherence to medication. The current study shows that nurses' traits and beliefs affect their use of strategies promoting mental health patient adherence to medication and the enhancement of these strategies.
authors.affiliation: Tirat Hacarmel Mental Health Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drori
authors.forename: Hava
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guetta
authors.forename: Merav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Natan
authors.forename: Yaakov
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Polakevich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Israel; adherence to medication; belief; mental health nurse; strategies