Attitudes of patients with schizophrenia spectrum or bipolar disorders towards medication self\u2010management during hospitalisation

Abstract: Background Medication self-management (MSM) is defined as a person's ability to cope with medication treatment for a chronic condition, along with the associated physical and psychosocial effects that the medication causes in their daily lives. For many patients, it is important to be able to self-manage their medication successfully, as they will often be expected to do after discharge. Aim The aim of this study was to describe the willingness and attitudes of patients with schizophrenia spectrum or bipolar disorders regarding MSM during hospital admission. A secondary aim was to identify various factors associated with patient willingness to participate in MSM and to describe their assumptions concerning needs and necessary conditions, as well as their attitudes towards their medication. Methods A multicentre, quantitative cross-sectional observational design was used to study the willingness and attitudes of psychiatric patients regarding MSM during hospitalisation. The study adhered to guidelines for Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). Results In this study, 84 patients, of which 43 were patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 41 were patients with bipolar disorders, participated. A majority of the patients (81%) were willing to participate in MSM during their hospitalisation. Analysis revealed patients are more willing to MSM if they are younger (r\u2009=\u2009 12.417, p\u2009<\u2009.001) and a decreasing number of medicines (r\u2009=\u2009 12.373, p\u2009=\u2009.003). Patients' willingness was positively associated with the extent of support by significant others during and after hospitalisation (Pearson's r\u2009=\u2009.298, p\u2009=\u2009.011). Patients were convinced that they would take their medication more correctly if MSM were to be allowed during hospitalisation (65%). Conclusion Most of the patients were willing to self-manage their medication during hospitalisation, however, under specific conditions such as being motivated to take their medication correctly and to understand the benefits of their medication