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Learning Objective 1: recognize the power of the provider-client relationship to influence adherence to treatment for clients with SMI in a study of clients living in the community.
Learning Objective 2: evaluate the effectiveness of communication (phone/email/texting) by the provider with client between office visits to increase adherence to treatment (psychotropic medications and appointments).
Methods:
The study participants were a representative sample of 50 adults with serious mental illness at a private, out-patient psychiatric treatment center. The independent/predictor variable was communication via phone, texting, or email by provider with the client. The first communication took place within the first week after appointment with provider. Further communication was attempted every two weeks until the next office visit. The sample was divided into two independent, non-overlapping groups. The dependent variable was the rate of adherence to psychotropic medication as prescribed. For this study clients were considered to be meeting the goal of adherence or not meeting the goal of adherence (taking medications as prescribed less than 75% of the time).
Results: The chi square test of homogeneity was implemented to evaluate the differences between two groups with one group receiving successful communication with provider between office visits and the other group not receiving successful communication and measuring the adherence of each group to psychotropic medication. Group C1 received the successful communication intervention 75% of the time and achieved an adherence rate of 75% for taking their psychotropic medications. Group C2 received successful communication less than 75% of the time and achieved an adherence rate of less than 75%. Ha: C1 > C2. .The chi square test of homogeneity was statistically significant with X 2 (1, N = 30) = __, p < .05 with a 95% CI [75-100].
Conclusion:
The results demonstrated that the rate of adherence to psychotropic medication as prescribed was higher in the group that received successful communication with their provider between office visits as compared to the group that did not receive successful communication.