Drug Compliance and Family Support Contribution in Preventing Relapse among Schizophrenia Clients in Gaza Strip

Background: The drug compliance and family support are both continue to be a significant enhancement to the treatment of people with schizophrenia. However some people with the illness do compliance with drug which then results in stability and recovery from their condition and decrease relapse rate. The family support encourages client to continue in treatment and follow up. Objectives: The aim of study is identify the levels of clients attitude towards treatment, drug compliance, family support and relapse among schizophrenia clients in Gaza strip. Other objectives aims to identify the relationship between of drug compliance and family support in preventing relapse and assess the effect of the economic stat, gender, age and marital status on relapse among schizophrenia in Gaza strip. Methods: The research is designed on a descriptive cross-sectional method that focused on distributed questionnaire. This questionnaire was used to collect the required data in order to achieve the research objectives. The purposive study sample consists of eighty four clients from community mental health in Gaza strip were participated in structured interviews to explore clients attitude towered medication, drug compliance and family support. The rate of response was 77.38%. The interview with family to explore relapses. Three questioners were built by researcher, first one about drug compliance, second one about family support there are filled by clients and third one bout relapse filled by families. All questionnaires filled through interview with clients and family separately, statistical Package for the Social Sciences, (SPSS) was used to perform the required analysis. Results: The clients attitude towards treatment was positive 65.93 %, the level of drug compliance was 74.79%, the level of family support was 84.312% and the level of relapse was 27.8%. The significant and extrusive relationship between the client attitude towards medication and the drug compliance to antipsychotic drug at significant level α =0.05, the p-value equal 0.000. The relationship between drug compliance and relapses are inverted correlation at significant level α =0.05, the p-value equal 0.000. The relationship between family support and relapses with behavior, social, sensory, intellectual and are inverted correlation at significant level α =0.05, the p-value equal 0.000., except family support with emotional relapse is no at significant level α =0.05, the p-value equal 0.000. No a significant differences between Drug compliance and family support contribute prevent relapse among schizophrenia clients inGaza strip due to sex, age, social status and monthly income at significant level α =0.05 Conclusion: The study showed strong correlation between drug compliance and family support in preventing relapse among schizophrenia. To engage client in treatment need to support from family and community. The client's attitude towards medication and treatment are important to drug compliance and help in continuity of treatment