Caregivers Perspectives on Factors Affecting Medication Non-Adherence among Mental Health Patients at the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital

Abstract

Background: The burden of mental and behavioral disorder has increased by 38% from 1990 to 2010 globally. In developing and under-developed income countries over 70% of this increase is due to mental disorder. In Ghana the prevalence of mental disorders has been estimated at 13% of the adult population. The purpose of the study was to examine caregivers’ perspectives on factors affecting medication non-adherence among mental health patients at the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital. Methods: The study relied on qualitative design with a phenomenological approach to examine the objectives of the study. In all, twenty (20) caregivers ranging from prescribers, nurses and relatives were interviewed face-to-face. Above all the study adapted the health belief model. Results: The study found among others that patients-related factors affecting medication non-adherence among mental health patients include side effect of medication, financial challenges, lack of insight, family influence, religious belief, length of time of taking the medication, inflated cost of care and non-availability of the medication. Also found in the study was pharmacological factors such as restlessness, tardive dyskinesia, Parkinsonism which has really affected non-adherence of medication. The study therefore recommend that Government or policy makers must improve mental health in Ghana, policies must be developed to include mental health services into NHIS which will reduce the burden of cost on the clients, the use of atypical and long acting medications must be promoted and constant training and supervision of mental health workers to perform standard psycho-education regularly at the facility. Conclusion: The findings revealed several factors of medication non-adherence from patients-related, to institutional, community and pharmacological factors, thereby providing insight into different non-adherence factors. Clarity is offered by highlighting religious differences and similarities in mental health beliefs and perceptions about the causes of mental health problems. The implications of the studies and recommendations are based on current findings.