This quasi-experimental two-group pretest-posttest study examined the effects of an interpersonal communication skills training program on medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia, measured at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up.

Research Hypotheses

1. The experimental group receiving the interpersonal communication skills training program will show higher mean treatment adherence scores post-intervention and at one-month follow-up compared to baseline.
2. The experimental group will show higher mean treatment adherence scores post-intervention and at one-month follow-up than the control group receiving routine nursing care.

Intervention : Interpersonal Communication Skills Training Program This program was developed based on DeVito's communication theory and integrated with the positive reinforcement-based interpersonal communication training developed by Thiengwiriyakul et al.(11) The program comprises six sessions: 1) Positive Communication 2) Equal Communication 3) Empathic Communication 4) Supportive Communication 5) Open Communication and 6) Relationship-Building Communication. The intervention was conducted three times per week, 60 minutes per session, over a two-week period.

Usual Care :

Usual care is defined as the provision of standard psychiatric nursing interventions consistent with usual clinical practice.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male patients aged 20-59 with an ICD-10 schizophrenia diagnosis(F20.0-F20.9).
2. History of psychiatric readmission due to medication non-adherence
3. Mild psychiatric symptoms(Thai BPRS score ≤ 36).
4. Poor interpersonal communication skills(score ≤ 1.50 on Thiengviriya et al.'s assessment tool
5. Low to moderate medication adherence(score ≤ 42 on Uthaiphan & Daengdomyut's scale
6. Able to read, write, speak, and without hearing/visual impairments.
7. Had a primary caregiver post-discharge.
8. Provided informed consent voluntarily.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with other psychiatric comorbidities(e.g., depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or substance-induced psychosis)

IPD Sharing Statement:

Individual participant data (IPD) will be made available following publication of the research article and will remain accessible for 10 years thereafter.

10 years thereafter.

Access instructions will be provided at that time

Participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned using a simple lottery method into an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20).