Drug Compliance of Patients Hospitalized in the Psychiatry Clinic and the Relationship with Social Support

Objectives: This study was carried out in order to determine drug compliance among patients hospitalized in the psychiatry clinic and the relationship with social support. Methods: The sample of the study was composed of 140 patients hospitalized in the clinic between April 2009 - March 2010, who accepted to take part in the study and had no problems in comprehension or communication. Data of the study were obtained with the "Personal Information Form", "Morisky Adherence Scale" and "Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support". Data of the research were obtained during a face-to-face interview. For analysis of the data, variance analysis, correlation and frequency distribution were used. Results: The average age of the patients was 37.20 +/- 12.82 years, 51.4% were female, 53.6% were married, 44.3% were primary school graduates, 25.7% were high school graduates, 62.1% had mid-level economic status, and 67.1% lived with their immediate family. The average duration of the patients' disease was 8.35 +/- 8.11 years, and the average number of hospitalizations was 3.25 +/- 2.08. Drug compliance was good in 20% of the patients, moderate in 48.6% and poor in 31.4%. When the average score of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was evaluated according to the drug compliance of patients, it was determined that there was little difference between groups with regards to family support; however, there was a statistically significant difference between groups regarding the sub-dimensions of support of a friend or someone special (p<0.05). There was a weak relation, statistically significant and positive, between support of a friend and drug compliance (r=0.272, p=0.001). Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, it was determined that drug compliance of most patients was inadequate. The drug compliance score of patients who feel the support of a friend or someone special was high, and there was a relation, though weak, between support of a friend and drug compliance.