Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
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Abstract
Non-adherence to medication is a common hurdle in effective long-term management of patients with chronic psychiatric disorders. Patients and their care givers’ attitude play significant role for adherence. So, it is imperative to examine attitude of patients and their care givers towards psychiatrists and psycho tropic medications. To describe the attitude towards psychiatrist and psycho tropic medication among persons with mental illness (PMI) and their primary care givers. A cross-sectional observational study was done at psychiatry department of a tertiary care hospital among total 228 patients and care givers. The case record form included demographic data, total duration of treatment and two pre validated questionnaires. One was attitude towards psycho tropic medications (ATPM) and another for assessing attitude towards psychiatrist (ATP). The data was analysed using descriptive analysis with Graph Pad Prism statistical analysis software version10.3.1. The attitude towards psychiatrist and medications did not have association with age, gender, religion and religious belief. Higher education was associated with favorable attitude. Eighty five percent (N=188) subjects believed that psycho tropic medication is very expensive and nearly one fourth subjects (25.2%, N=73 and 29.7%, N=66) respectively believed that drugs cannot prevent relapse and they have unmanageable side effects. Patients did not differ from care giver with respect to attitude towards psychiatrist. There was a positive correlation between ATP and ATPM score (correlation coefficient r=0.2847, P<0.0001). There is overall positive attitude towards psychiatrists and psycho tropic medication among persons with mental illness and care givers. Apart from attitude towards psychiatrist and medication, there is need to explore other multiple factors related to treatment non adherence. The positive attitude towards Psychiatrist can motivate undergraduate students to choose psychiatry as a speciality of their career option.
How to cite this article:
M. Raval Chintan. Attitude Toward Psychiatrists and Psychotropic Medication among Persons with Mental Illness and their Primary Caregivers at a Tertiary Care Hospital in North Gujarat.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2024.12.54.61
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2024.12.54.61