KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF CHRONIC MENTALLY-ILL PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER MEDICATION EDUCATION

This study compares the knowledge and attitudes of 60 patients in a st ate hospital about medication, before and after structured and unstruc tured medication education. The purpose was to determine which type of education has more positive effects. A pre- and post-test two-group e xperimental design was used. The results of this study were not statis tically significant in supporting the literature that education has so me effect on knowledge or on attitude about taking medication. The stu dy showed similar effects of the method (structured versus unstructure d) on increasing knowledge and attitude toward medication. Demographic data from the study suggest a variety of other factors may relate to attitudes and knowledge about medication in the hospital. This study s uggests medication education should address demographic factors, incor porate multi-dimensional approaches, include more active patient parti cipation, and utilize one-to-one teaching whenever possible.