Abstract

EFFECT OF INSIGHT AND MEDICATION BENEFITS, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL BARRIERS TOWARDS MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG RURAL AND URBAN PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENTS

Vinodkumar M.*, Bharathkumar A. and Manoj G.H.R.R.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of present study was to find out the difference in the effect of insight and medication benefits, internal and external barriers towards medication adherence among rural and urban psychiatric outpatients. Methods: An analytical observational study was conducted on 205 patients for duration of 6months in the outpatient department of psychiatry. Brief Evaluation of Medication Influences and Beliefs is a brief self report scale designed to identify patients who are more likely to be non-adherent to antipsychotic medication. The scale comprises of three components. First component contains statements (1, 2, 7 and 8 questions) regarding insight into and benefits regarding antipsychotic medications. Component two (6 and 7 questions) comprised of statements regarding external barriers. Component three (3 and 5 questions) comprised of statements regarding internal barriers. Mann Whitney U test was used to perform statistical analysis. Results: Men (110) were most commonly affected. Age group of 26-45 years was mostly affected. Schizophrenia was more prevalent (69.2 per 100cases) among the psychiatric disorders. There were significant differences in the insight and medication benefits and external barriers towards medication adherence among the rural and urban psychiatric outpatients (p

Keywords: Insight, medication benefits, barriers, medication adherence, Brief evaluation of medication influences and beliefs.