PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an education program on the knowledge of medication and prevention of depression in the elderly at a local community. METHODS: This study utilized the nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Thirty consecutive people were included in this study for the experimental group, and another 30 people were allocated to the control group. The program was performed once a week for 3 weeks. Data were collected from March 15 to April 30, 2010 and statistical analyses were performed by chi2-test and independent t-test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the knowledge of medication, depression and medication compliance between the experimental and control groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that an education program for the knowledge of medication and prevention of depression in the elderly with chronic disease could improve their knowledge of medication and their medication compliance, and decrease their depression. These results suggest that education of knowledge with social psychology can be an effective and practical method of management to the elderly with chronic disease at local communities.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease* ; Depression* ; Education* ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; Psychology, Social

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an education program on the knowledge of medication and prevention of depression in the elderly at a local community. METHODS: This study utilized the nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Thirty consecutive people were included in this study for the experimental group, and another 30 people were allocated to the control group. The program was performed once a week for 3 weeks. Data were collected from March 15 to April 30, 2010 and statistical analyses were performed by chi2-test and independent t-test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the knowledge of medication, depression and medication compliance between the experimental and control groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that an education program for the knowledge of medication and prevention of depression in the elderly with chronic disease could improve their knowledge of medication and their medication compliance, and decrease their depression. These results suggest that education of knowledge with social psychology can be an effective and practical method of management to the elderly with chronic disease at local communities.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease* ; Depression* ; Education* ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; Psychology, Social

OBJECTIVE: There have been few long-term studies that have assessed factors influencing treatment discontinuation and long-term outcome of schizophrenia in Korea. The present study aimed to evaluate factors affecting treatment discontinuation and treatment outcome, after 10 years, in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Among hospitalized patients between 1997 and 1999, 191 patients were given continuous follow-up service. We examined the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients who remained in treatment. Regression analyses were used to find any clinical factors affecting treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-three patients (71.12%) discontinued the treatment. The treatment retention group contained more female patients, paranoid-type patients, patients who had shown self-harming behavior, patients receiving clozapine, and patients with good medication compliance. The recovery rate was 25%. However, 42.3% did not have gainful employment. Further, most patients couldn't live independently. CONCLUSION: The results show the importance of gender, patient behavior, medication, and medication compliance in predicting treatment discontinuation in patients with schizophrenia.
Clozapine ; Employment ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Medication Adherence ; Retention (Psychology) ; Schizophrenia ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: Medication adherence is important in the treatment of schizophrenia, and critical periods during treatment may be associated with relapse. However, the relationship between adherence and duration of outpatient treatment (DOT) remains unclear. The authors aimed to clarify the relationship between adherence and DOT at a psychiatric hospital in Japan. METHODS: For outpatients with schizophrenia who regularly visit Shin-Abuyama hospital, the authors conducted a single questionnaire survey (five questions covering gender, age, DOT, medication shortages, and residual medication) over one month period. Participants were divided into two groups whether DOT were from more than one year to within five years or not. Mantel-Haenszel analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed on the data regarding the medication adherence. RESULTS: Effective answers were received for 328 patients. The residual medication rate was significantly higher among those receiving outpatient treatment from more than one year to within five years than five years than those receiving outpatient treatment for more than five years or less than one year (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: This survey suggests that there are critical periods during which patients are most prone to poor adherence. Because poor adherence increases the risk of relapse, specific measures must be taken to improve adherence during these periods.
Critical Period (Psychology) ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Japan ; Logistic Models ; Medication Adherence* ; Outpatients* ; Recurrence ; Schizophrenia*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop evaluation criteria for conversations about medication and to demonstrate conversational analysis with actual dialogues on medication as examples. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of qualitative research using conversational analysis which showed functional phases and patterns of dialogue about medication (greeting, identifying the patient, medicating, finishing). Nurse-patient conversations were videotaped and transcribed and 75 conversations were used for analysis. RESULTS: Not all functional phases were showed in the conversations about medication. Therefore, conversations about medication can be considered as incomplete dialogues. The evaluation-criteria were represented in terms of the structure and content of the dialogues. Structural evaluation-criteria were the same as the functional phases, as functional stage is the standard for evaluation. The criteria of evaluation for content suggested 3 domains, content, expression, and interaction with 20 items scored on a Likert-type scale of 5-points. Finally, analysis of actual conversations about medication according to the evaluative criteria were provided. CONCLUSION: The results provide the basic data to develop educational programs and strategies to improve nurses' competency in conversation about medication.
Clinical Competence ; *Communication ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; *Nurse-Patient Relations ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; *Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Videotape Recording

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplant recipients inevitably take a life-long immunosuppressive medication to prevent graft rejection. Non-compliance to immunosuppressive medication is one of the main causes leading to acute and chronic rejection and diminished renal function, resulting in a return to dialysis, increased morbidity, or mortality with an additional health care cost and poor quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate actual medication compliance and its related factors. METHODS: A total of 222 functioning kidney transplant recipients were surveyed in a single center, and 25 patients were excluded due to incomplete responses. We reviewed medical records retrospectively, and the data were statistically analyzed with SPSS version 13.0. RESULTS: Among 197 patients, 113 (57.4%) were compliant to the immunosuppressive agents, and 84 (42.6%) recipients were non-compliant. Non-compliant patients were significantly younger (P=0.004), highly educated (P=0.004), employed (P=0.005), more likely to live alone (P=0.035), and drank more (P=0.001) than the compliant patients. Regarding psychosocial factors, more barriers (P=0.015), weak beliefs about the necessity of taking medications (P=0.001), strong beliefs about specific concerns related to medications (P=0.038), and low self efficacy (P=0.003) were identified in the non-compliant group compared with the compliant group. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that multiple factors affected medication compliance in patients taking immunosuppressants. It would be helpful to identify potential recipients with a risk for non-compliance based on their general characteristics and psychosocial factors, so they can be provided a specialized education program to promote compliance. This strategy may help produce more favorable long-term outcomes among kidney transplant recipients.
Compliance ; Dialysis ; Graft Rejection ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Medical Records ; Medication Adherence ; Quality of Life ; Rejection (Psychology) ; Retrospective Studies ; Self Efficacy

OBJECTIVETo investigate influential factors for the tendency to medicate and medication compliance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODSA total of 188 children aged from 5 to 16 years, who were initially diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria, were included in the study. They underwent symptom assessment and cognitive function test. The compliance of methylphenidate treatment was evaluated.

RESULTSPatients with better emotional state, and fewer oppositional and hyperactive behaviors and those who had a family history of psychiatric diseases and who obtained lower scores in the number cancellation test (NCT), were more prone to medication and/or exhibited better medication compliance. Logistic regression analysis showed that fewer oppositional and hyperactive behaviors and lower NCT scores were the predictive factors for a higher tendency to medicate, and a better emotional state was the predictive factor for better medication compliance. Patients of predominantly inattentive type were more prone to medication and showed better medication compliance, as compared with those of combined type. Gender, age and symptom severity were not associated with the tendency to medicate and/or medication compliance.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a need to enhance medication compliance in children with ADHD who have hyperactive, impulsive and oppositional behaviors, and to improve their long-term social functions.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Central Nervous System Stimulants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; Methylphenidate ; therapeutic use

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of menopause symptoms and associated factors in patients with breast cancer who were receiving hormone therapy. METHODS: Data were collected with questionnaires from 150 patients with breast cancer who had been on hormone therapy at a hospital in Seoul. Data were analyzed with the t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient to compare the degree of menopause symptoms by demographic, clinical and psychological factors. RESULTS: The mean menopause symptoms score was 13.39±7.97. Most participants reported having hot flushes and sweating (75.3%), physical and mental exhaustion (82.7%) and sexual problems (64.7%). Menopause symptoms and depression were correlated with each other (p < .01). Somato-vegetative symptoms were different significantly by age, menopausal status at time of operation, occupation and tumor. Psychological symptoms were different significantly by marital status, operation type and chemotherapy. Urogenital symptoms were different significantly by prior history of cancer, occupation, operation type and radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: These findings can be used to provide tailored nursing interventions by identifying high risk groups for menopausal symptom among breast cancer patients receiving hormone therapy.
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Depression ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Medication Adherence ; Menopause ; Nursing ; Occupations ; Psychology ; Seoul ; Sweat ; Sweating

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Relapse in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not predictable, although several factors have been suggested. The aims of the current study were to assess and compare the possible causes of clinical relapse as perceived by patients and parents. METHODS: Of 107 young (<35 years old) IBD patients, 26 patients who experienced recent (<3 month) relapse and their parents completed a questionnaire at the same time. Baseline characteristics and clinical manifestations were reviewed and the most common causes of relapse as perceived by patients and parents were compared. RESULTS: Median patient age was 22.5 years and the male to female ratio was 17:9. Crohn's disease was diagnosed in 23 patients and ulcerative colitis in the other three patients. Mean disease duration was 39.8+/-30.3 months. Eighteen (69.2%) patients experienced stress before relapse. Fifteen (57.7%) parents thought that their children experienced stress before relapse. Agreement between patients and parents for non-adherence to medication and stress was 100% and 73.1%, respectively. Stress was considered the most likely cause of relapse in both groups. Discordance rate between parents and patients with respect to main causes of relapse was 40.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Stress was perceived to be the most common condition noted before clinical relapse in young IBD patients and their parents. However, the discordance rate between patients and parents with respect to the main causes of relapse was 40.4%. This result suggests a considerable difference in terms of disease understanding between young IBD patients and parents.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Colitis, Ulcerative/diagnosis/psychology ; Crohn Disease/diagnosis/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/*diagnosis/psychology ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; Parents/*psychology ; Recurrence ; Stress, Psychological ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze effects of a community-based case management program for clients with hypertension living in the community. METHODS: The research design was a one group pre and post-test design with 30 participants with hypertension who agreed to participate in the 8-12 week case management program provided by case managers from the National Health Insurance Corporation in 2002. Data were collected three times, before and after the case management services, and 6 months later. Outcomes included changes in blood pressure, knowledge of hypertension and daily life practices, including alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise, and medication adherence. RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVA and post-hoc tests of means revealed significant differences before and after service for systolic blood pressure, daily life practices (monitoring body weight and BP, low salt and cholesterol and high vegetable diet, and stress-relief practices), and exercise. The goal for medication adherence was attained after service. Significant improvements from baseline to 6 months after service were observed in measures of salt and vegetables in diet. There were no significant differences on hypertension knowledge, alcohol consumption or smoking behavior between before service and after, and at 6 months. CONCLUSION: The findings provide preliminary evidence that case management intervention can have positive outcomes on BP control, daily life practices, exercise, and medication adherence for clients with hypertension. However, additional interventions are needed to sustain long-term effects.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking/prevention & control/psychology ; Blood Pressure ; Case Management/*organization & administration ; Community Health Services ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/psychology/*therapy ; Korea ; Male ; Medication Adherence/psychology ; Middle Aged ; Patient Education as Topic ; Smoking Cessation/psychology