Effects of Telenursing on Drug Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Individuals With Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, health services offered to individuals diagnosed with mental disorders were interrupted, and use of alternative methods, such as telenursing, came to the forefront.

METHOD: Sixty-four individuals with schizophrenia participated in the current randomized controlled trial that evaluated whether a telenursing intervention affected their drug attitudes, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Pretest, posttest, and follow-up measurements were obtained for experimental and control groups from May to August 2021. Data were collected via a Personal Information Form, Drug Attitude Inventory-10, Self-Efficacy Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Form.

RESULTS: Upon comparison of scores obtained by the experimental and control groups in pretest, posttest, and follow-up measurements, it was discerned that telenursing positively affected drug attitudes of participants in the experimental group and enhanced their quality of life. Although there was an increase in self-efficacy levels of the experimental group compared to the control group, the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: Telenursing is an effective intervention for the improvement of drug attitudes and quality of life but is not satisfactory for the improvement of self-efficacy in individuals with schizophrenia. [ Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx (x), xx-xx.].