Adherence to Treatment in Patients with Schizophrenia: Exploring Focus Group Discussions Analyzed by the Qualitative Study Approach

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461785
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: KOGA MINAKO 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (30277032)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: アドヒアランス / 統合失調症 / フォーカス・グループ・ディスカッション / Grounded Theory法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Schizophrenia is a disease that long-term antipsychotic treatment is necessary and poor adherence to treatment is associated with the relapse and the unsatisfactory outcome. It is important to examine the patients’ points of view on treatment to better understand adherence habits. This research will explore the thoughts, feelings and attitudes of patients with schizophrenia to treatment by using focus group discussions (FGDs) and qualitative methods.
Five FGDs have been conducted and the results were generated as follows; Adherence was affected by participants’ own perspectives through their symptoms, insights, and experiences. The relationships with their family members and psychiatrists strongly affected their adherence to treatment. Friendships became weak after the onset. Day care centres played an important role for regular daily life, the place to go and share their experiences. The acceptance of the disease and the outlook of life would promote them to better adherence.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学