Schizophrenia and the Effect of Patient Education

Abstract

Schizophrenia is the most frequent admission diagnosis to a psychiatric facility (Statistics Canada, 1976). Although the diagnosis of schizophrenia does not convey the message of hopelessness that it once did, many problems such as social adjustment and the lack of health promoting behaviours, specifically medication adherence, often preclude the adaptation necessary for improved health (Pyke, 1979; Serban & Thomas, 1974; Van Putten, 1978). The literature suggests that the individuals' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs pertaining to their illness may be important variables that relate positively to health behaviours (Caplan, Robinson, French, Caldwell, & Shinn, 1976; Given, Given, & Simoni, 1978; Tagliacozzo & Ima, 1970). Beliefs regarding schizophrenia may in fact be inhibiting positive health behaviours as the illness remains in the minds of many a frightening and often unmentionable disease (Lancaster, 1976; Masnik, 1974; Wing, 1978). Educational strategies which have been found to be effective in altering health beliefs, knowledge, attitudes and values about other diseases (Green, 1979), generally are not utilized to dispel the fear of schizophrenia. These strategies have not been validated as effective intervention techniques for psychiatric populations (Blackwell, 1976; del Campo, Carr, & Correa, 1983). The purpose of this study was to provide baseline data about the effect of patient education on schizophrenic inpatients' health knowledge, beliefs and general health motivation pertaining to their illness.