Abstract
BackgroundMedication adherence remains a challenge in the management of mental healthcare users (MHCUs), despite it being regarded as crucial for better health outcomes. Nurses at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities can play an important role through nursing presence in enhancing MHCUs’ medication adherence.AimThis article aimed to investigate the relationship between MHCUs’ self-reported medication adherence and their perception of the nursing presence by registered nurses in PHC.SettingAn urban health district in Gauteng province, South Africa.MethodsA quantitative, descriptive correlational, cross-sectional design was used. The sample included 180 MHCUs. Data were collected using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale and the Presence of Nursing Scale.ResultsThe overall adherence level of respondents was partially adherent, with an average score of 6.45 out of a total score of 10. Respondents also reported a low level of perceived nursing presence demonstrated by registered nurses, with an average score of 72.2 out of 125. The results indicated a positive correlation between respondents’ self-reported medication adherence and their perceived nursing presence of registered nurses as evidenced by the positive value of the correlation coefficient of 0.69 with a corresponding significance probability value of 0.000 (r = 0.69; p = 0.00).ConclusionThe level of perceived nursing presence demonstrated by registered nurses played a significant role in influencing MHCUs’ level of medication adherence. The registered nurses can improve MHCUs’ medication adherence by demonstrating nursing presence skills such as good listening skills and taking care of MHCUs as individuals and not as a disease.ContributionThe results of this study confirm that there is a correlation between nursing presence and medication adherence. This holds significant value for future research in nursing presence. These findings also provide registered nurses in PHC with a valuable tool to improve medication adherence, namely nursing presence.
Highlights
Medication adherence is an essential factor in improving the health of healthcare users and in the management of physical and mental disorders (Patton et al 2018:138)
Medication adherence remains a global challenge (Hartung et al 2017:101). This challenge is a concern especially for mental healthcare users (MHCUs) because medication adherence is the core of their treatment (Hartung et al 2017:101)
The results of this study revealed that self-reported medication adherence and the perception of whether registered nurses (RNs) display presence were not significantly influenced by some of the demographic characteristics
Summary
Medication adherence is an essential factor in improving the health of healthcare users and in the management of physical and mental disorders (Patton et al 2018:138). This stance on medication adherence is referred to by Amado et al (2015:233) as the ‘ frontier in quality improvement’. Medication adherence remains a global challenge (Hartung et al 2017:101). Medication adherence remains a challenge in the management of mental healthcare users (MHCUs), despite it being regarded as crucial for better health outcomes. Nurses at primary healthcare (PHC) facilities can play an important role through nursing presence in enhancing MHCUs’ medication adherence
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