The effectiveness of a psycho-educational nursing intervention on illness perception, knowledge and expressed emotion of caregivers of patients with first episode psychosis

Abstract

Background: Psycho educational nursing intervention to families of patients with first-episode psychosis is highly recommended to assist families to overcome feelings of stress, guilt, stigma, loss of control and to promote recovery of patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of psych educational nursing intervention on illness perception, level of knowledge and level of expressed emotion of caregivers of patients with first episode psychosis.

Methods: Research design: a quasi-experimental research design (one group pre-posttest) was used to achieve the aim of the study. The study was conducted at three psychiatric and mental health governmental outpatient clinics. A convenience sample of 50 caregivers was used. Data was collected using socio demographic data questionnaire, family questionnaire, knowledge questionnaire, and illness perception questionnaire.

Results: There were clinically significant improvement among the caregivers' level of knowledge and illness perception at post test of psycho educational nursing intervention than before intervention, while level of expressed emotion was improved post the psycho educational nursing intervention but without obvious significant difference.

Conclusions & Recommendation: Psycho educational nursing intervention was effective in improving caregivers' level of knowledge, illness perception and expressed emotion. The study recommended to urgently utilize psycho educational nursing intervention to all caregivers of patient with first episode psychosis in all psychiatric hospitals.