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Effect of a medication management training package for nurses on clinical outcomes for patients with schizophrenia:
Richard Gray1, Til Wykes, Melisa Edmonds
1PO 30, Health Services Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF. R.Gray@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Background:
Non-compliance attenuates the efficacy of treatments for physical and mental disorders.
Aims:
To assess the effectiveness of a medication management training package for community mental health nurses (CMHNs) in improving compliance and clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.
Method:
Pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Sixty CMHNs in geographical clusters were assigned randomly to medication management training or treatment as usual. Each CMHN identified two patients on their case-load who were assessed at baseline and again after 6 months by a research worker. The primary efficacy outcome of interest was psychopathology, measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
Results:
Nurses who had received medication management training produced a significantly greater reduction in patients'overall psychopathology compared with treatment as usual at the end of the 6-month study period (change in PANSS total scores: medication management -16.62, treatment as usual 1.17; difference -17.79; 95% CI -24.12 to -11.45; P<0.001).
Conclusions:
Medication management training for CMHNs is effective in improving clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.
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