A Comparative Study of Self-Reported Medication Knowledge and Attitudes of Patients With Psychiatric Conditions With or Without Participation in Patient Medication Education Group

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the self-reported medication knowledge and attitudes of patients with psychiatric disorders who attended a patient medication education group (PMEG) versus those who did not. Methods: A convenience sample of 288 patients being discharged from an adult inpatient psychiatric unit was used. Just prior to discharge, patients were offered the opportunity to complete a questionnaire to assess their medication knowledge and attitudes. Patients who consented and attended the PMEG were assigned to the treatment group (n=81), while those who did not attend the PMEG were assigned to the control group (n= 207). The survey included nine statements for which the patients selected either agree or disagree. A Rasch analysis was used to analyze scaled questions. Chi-squared tests and Mann-Whitney U were used to analyze nominal and ordinal data, respectively. Demographic data was also collected. An alpha priori of 0.05 was applied. A Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple tests. Results: Patients who attended the PMEG were found to have a higher level of education compared to those who did not attend (p=0.037). There were no significant differences in knowledge and/or attitudes between those who attended PMEG during this admission versus those who did not attend (p=0.065). However, those who attended a PMEG during a previous hospital admission had a more positive attitude toward taking their medications (p=0.025). Conclusions: Results suggest that attitudes toward taking medications may gradually improve over time after patients attend a PMEG during an acute inpatient psychiatric admission.