An Insight on Patient’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of their Psychiatric Illness: An Assessment on Pre and Post Mental Health Education

Background: Patient information leaflets (PILs) are as decisive as pharmacotherapy interventions in managing all psychiatric disorders. PILs are globally accepted patient counselling aids to improve their knowledge about the disease and to encourage medication-taking behaviour. To design, validate the PILs and assess the pre and post-Mental Health Education (MHE) of patients with Depression, Bipolar affective disorder, Alcohol dependence Syndrome and Schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in two phases. In Phase-I, the PILs were developed and validated with the help of healthcare and non-healthcare professionals. Quality information was assessed by using the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) questionnaire and PMOSE/IKIRSCH formula was used to measure the readability and complexity. In phase-II, the impact of pre and post MHE on knowledge, attitude and practice of PILs was evaluated. Chi-square test was performed to assess the difference between pre and post-MHE. Results: A total of 106 participants validated the PILs. The compatibility was low and proficiency level was level-2, which signifies understanding capability in people having high school as educational background. Majority (>90%) of the validator’s response to the PILs were found to be acceptable. This study resulted in a significant improvement (p=0.001) on pre and post- MHE with respect to Knowledge Attitude and Practice questionnaire of Depression, Bipolar affective disorder, Alcohol dependence Syndrome and Schizophrenia respectively. Conclusion: It was found that PILs provided better understanding about the psychiatric disorder and encouraged to adhere to the medications.