An evaluation of a medication management training programme for community mental health professionals; service user level outcomes:

Abstract 

Background

Antipsychotic treatment is important in reducing symptomatology and relapse in schizophrenia. Community mental health professionals (CMHPs) have a significant role in this treatment; however, evidence suggests that many are ineffective in medication management.

Objectives

To develop and evaluate a medication management training programme whose aims are to increase the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment and increase services users’ involvement in treatment decisions.

Participants

Twenty-eight pairs of CMHPs were recruited from mental health Trusts in England. For each practitioner an average of 3.4 service users were randomly selected for their ‘study caseload’.

Design

A pragmatic cluster randomised trial assessed the service users of CMHPs allocated to medication management training or waiting list controls.

Methods

All practitioner participants were taught to use a variety of assessment measures and undertook baseline assessments with their service users. The experimental practitioners then attended the training programme. At the 9-month endpoint the service users were re-assessed.

Results

After the outcome data was adjusted for clustering the trained practitioners made significant improvements in global psychopathology and service user involvement in treatment when compared to controls at 9 months.

Conclusions

Training CMHPs in medication management has a positive impact on clinical outcomes and service user involvement in treatment.

Keywords: Antipsychotic, Education, Schizophrenia