Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background. Patients with schizophrenia are managed with antipsychotics and other psychotropic medications. Objectives. This study aimed to assess the commonly prescribed psychotropic medications for patients with schizophrenia, explore the types of therapeutic monitoring that were performed, and fi...

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Main Authors: Sharon Ashong, Irene A. Kretchy, Barima Afrane, Ama de-Graft Aikins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2018-01-01
Series:Psychiatry Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/9850594
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spelling doaj-9b2ae23e9ecc4dc3a4e9387e638874da2020-11-24T21:35:00ZengHindawi LimitedPsychiatry Journal2314-43272314-43352018-01-01201810.1155/2018/98505949850594Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional SurveySharon Ashong0Irene A. Kretchy1Barima Afrane2Ama de-Graft Aikins3Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaRegional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaBackground. Patients with schizophrenia are managed with antipsychotics and other psychotropic medications. Objectives. This study aimed to assess the commonly prescribed psychotropic medications for patients with schizophrenia, explore the types of therapeutic monitoring that were performed, and find out whether the side effects experienced by the patients played any role in their adherence behaviour. Methods. This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled 259 patients with schizophrenia from Accra Psychiatric Hospital and Pantang Psychiatric Hospital. Data were collected on mental status, side effects, types of therapeutic monitoring performed, and adherence behaviour. Results. Olanzapine was the commonly prescribed psychotropic medication. Most of respondents (73.4%) experienced mild levels of side effects. The negative effects were predominantly genitourinary (26%) and gastrointestinal (17.2%). Blood pressure and heart rate measures were the main types of monitoring performed but no measurement of drug levels was reported. About 98.1% of the participants poorly adhered to their medications and the major reasons for poor adherence were economic challenges, forgetfulness, and the feeling of wellness. Conclusion. Adherence to medication is a major health problem among patients with schizophrenia and there is a need to improve adherence and treatment outcomes.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/9850594
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Sharon Ashong
Irene A. Kretchy
Barima Afrane
Ama de-Graft Aikins
spellingShingle Sharon Ashong
Irene A. Kretchy
Barima Afrane
Ama de-Graft Aikins
Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Psychiatry Journal
author_facet Sharon Ashong
Irene A. Kretchy
Barima Afrane
Ama de-Graft Aikins
author_sort Sharon Ashong
title Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_short Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_full Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_fullStr Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_full_unstemmed Patterns of Prescription of Psychotropic Medications and Their Adherence among Patients with Schizophrenia in Two Psychiatric Hospitals in Accra, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Survey
title_sort patterns of prescription of psychotropic medications and their adherence among patients with schizophrenia in two psychiatric hospitals in accra, ghana: a cross-sectional survey
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Psychiatry Journal
issn 2314-4327
2314-4335
publishDate 2018-01-01
description Background. Patients with schizophrenia are managed with antipsychotics and other psychotropic medications. Objectives. This study aimed to assess the commonly prescribed psychotropic medications for patients with schizophrenia, explore the types of therapeutic monitoring that were performed, and find out whether the side effects experienced by the patients played any role in their adherence behaviour. Methods. This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled 259 patients with schizophrenia from Accra Psychiatric Hospital and Pantang Psychiatric Hospital. Data were collected on mental status, side effects, types of therapeutic monitoring performed, and adherence behaviour. Results. Olanzapine was the commonly prescribed psychotropic medication. Most of respondents (73.4%) experienced mild levels of side effects. The negative effects were predominantly genitourinary (26%) and gastrointestinal (17.2%). Blood pressure and heart rate measures were the main types of monitoring performed but no measurement of drug levels was reported. About 98.1% of the participants poorly adhered to their medications and the major reasons for poor adherence were economic challenges, forgetfulness, and the feeling of wellness. Conclusion. Adherence to medication is a major health problem among patients with schizophrenia and there is a need to improve adherence and treatment outcomes.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/9850594
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