Factors affecting compliance with psychotropic drugs for psychiatric patients: descriptive study

Background: Poor compliance to psychotropic drugs regimens is a major obstacle to the effective care of persons who have chronic mental illness Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting compliance with psychotropic drugs for psychiatric patients.Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional study design was carried-out in psychiatric out patient department of Taha Basher Hospital, Khartoum State.Sample: A total of 120 psychiatric patients were included and a purposive sampling technique was used.Data were collected by using face-to-face interview questionnaire.Results: Seventy-one percent of studied patients were non-compliant with psychotropic drugs; compliance was significantly more in male patients (34.3%), single (35, 4%), and literate (33.3%). The major factors affecting compliance with psychotropic drugs and leading to non-compliance were: feeling better (45.0%), followed by high cost of drugs (25.0%), forget fulness and fear from drugs side- effect (24.2% & 23.3%) respectively. Conclusion: Non-compliance with psychotropic drugs was high in psychiatric patients. All efforts should be exerted to improve the compliance of psychiatric patients by eliminating the effects leading to noncompliance

Complementary and alternative therapies for premenstrual syndrome: an exploratory study

Background: Data related to the use of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) for premenstrual syndrome in the communities is scarce. There is very limited information about complementary and alternative therapies practice among nursing students in Dakhalia governorate,Egypt.Methods: A descriptive exploratory design was conducted in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt, on all secondary technical nursing schools students to explore the use of complementary and alternative therapies to relieve premenstrual syndrome. A sample of 1120 students was included. A structured self-administered questionnaire (Arabic language) was used for data collection in the period of March to May, 2014. Results: Most of the study subjects (87.0%) used CAT to minimize symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Herbal therapy was the most commonly used as CAT followed by hydrotherapy, changing food types, massage and exercise. Conclusion: The majority of girls used CAT to minimize PMS. The greater part of students used herbal therapy to relieve their symptoms, followed by hydrotherapy; food Change; massage; and exercise