Effects of a Peer Support Programme on Medication Adherence and Subjective Recovery in Individuals with...

Peer support is increasingly recognised in schizophrenia care, but evidence of its effects on medication adherence and recovery remains limited. This study examined a structured, face-to-face peer support programme in community mental health centres. A non-randomised quasi-experimental time-series study allocated 40 participants by centre to intervention and comparison groups, assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 9-month follow-up. The intervention comprised eight peer-led group sessions delivered under a structured framework and professional supervision. Outcomes were assessed using the Scale of Medication Adherence in Individuals Diagnosed with Mental Illness and the Subjective Recovery Assessment Scale. Mixed-design analyses demonstrated significant group-by-time interactions for both medication adherence and subjective recovery. Medication adherence and subjective recovery improved in the intervention group and were largely maintained at follow-up, whereas no comparable improvement occurred in the comparison group. Although the non-randomised design requires cautious interpretation, the observed pattern suggests that structured peer support may represent a feasible and promising adjunct to routine community mental health services for individuals with schizophrenia. The findings also highlight the relevance of integrating recovery-oriented peer interventions into community-based mental health nursing practice, particularly in settings where nurses play a central role in care coordination, continuity, and the implementation of structured psychosocial interventions.