Qualitative inquiry into motivators for maintaining medication adherence among Taiwanese with schizophrenia

Medication non-adherence is associated with higher rates of relapse in persons with schizophrenia. Psychiatric nurses play a significant role in facilitating their medication adherence. The motivators which strengthen patients with schizophrenia to maintain their adherence to medication have seldom been explored. This study aims to explore what motivates persons with schizophrenia to consistently maintain their medication adherence. A qualitative approach was used to collect data from a psychiatric day-care centre at an armed forces hospital in Taiwan. Ten clients agreed to undergo an in-depth interview. The data was analyzed by a content analysis method. Four themes were identified: (i) the benefits of antipsychotic medication treatment; (ii) firm and ongoing family support; and the Chinese values of (iii) filial piety and (iv) hope for the future. These findings may provide psychiatric nurses with a better understanding of the motivators for medication adherence in persons with schizophrenia from the Chinese perspective. Nurses will then be able to adjust their practice to facilitate patients' medication adherence.