Examination of perceptions of schizophrenia patients about community-based mental health care centers and nurses through picture drawing: A qualitative study

Purpose This study aimed to examine the perceptions about community-based mental healthcare centers and nurses who offered services for patients with schizophrenia. Design and Methods This qualitative study was conducted on 15 patients who are diagnosed with schizophrenia and received services in two community-based mental health care centers in Turkey. Findings Three themes emerged regarding the perceptions about nurses, including perceived patient-nurse relationships, perceived personal features of nurses, and feelings about nurses. Five themes appeared concerning the perceptions about the community-based mental health care centers, including participation motivation, perceived care, services for treatment follow-up and adherence, services for social functioning and motivation, and services for rehabilitation and productivity. Practical Implications Patients with schizophrenia had positive perceptions about the nurses and the centers.