Knowledge And Attitude Of Family Members Towards Schizophrenic Patients In The Management Of Schizophrenia

Abstract

Every human being is born and brought up in a family. Depending on his age and sex, he has to play certain roles that are expected of him in his particular culture. The role a particular person has to play in his family is meaningful only in relation to other members of the family with whom he interacts. The roles are not rigid and in certain circumstances other members may take up the role of a member temporarily, either because of his absence or because of his illness. There are effective interventions (pharmacological and psychosocial) available and the cost of treatment of a person suffering from chronic schizophrenia is about US$2 permonth; the earlier the treatment is initiated, the more effective it will be. However, the majority of the persons with chronic schizophrenia do not receive treatment, which contributes to the chronicity.

Method: In present study researcher adopted descriptive survey design, a purposive sampling Method was used. The data collection was done on 100 family members of schizophrenic patients.

Result: Study results shows that majority of the 30% of family members having average above average knowledge, whereas 42 of them had Average knowledge 42% and 28 of them had Below Average knowledge 28% regarding Schizophrenia. 82 out of 100 family members of schizophrenic patients attending psychiatric OPD had positive attitude, whereas 18 of them had negative attitude. There is association between the knowledge and attitude with relationship with the patient, age of family member, education of family member, occupation of family member, community of family member, Patient’s duration of Illness of family member, Health Check-up of family member, Sources of Health Information of family member.

Conclusion: There is a slightly difference in knowledge and attitude of family members towards Schizophrenic patients in the management of Schizophrenia.