Knowledge on Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs among Caregivers of Mentally Ill Patients

Abstract

Antipsychotic drugs have high rate of nonadherence due to unpleasant side effects. This study aimed to assess the caregivers’ knowledge on atypical antipsychotic drugs. A descriptive survey approach was used. The study was conducted among 100 caregivers of mentally ill patients receiving atypical antipsychotic drugs. The data were collected through a self-administered knowledge questionnaire on atypical antipsychotic drugs. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that 45% of them had good knowledge and another 45% of them had an average knowledge, 6% of them had excellent knowledge and 4% had poor knowledge. The mean percentage of knowledge score was 63% in management, 42% in prevention, 52% general concept and 47% in the areas of side effects and precaution. There was a significant association between demographic variables such as monthly income (χ²=0.115; p=0.013), previous exposure to atypical antipsychotics (χ²=0.010; p=0.001), patient’s diagnosis (χ²=0.177; p=0.022), age (χ²=0.641; p=0.014), education (χ²=0.001; p=0.001), occupation (χ²=0.01; p=0.002) and knowledge score at 0.05 level of significance.