Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance rates of long-acting injection (LAI) in patients with first- and multiple-episode psychoses before and after providing concise information about LAI to the patients and their caregivers. Additionally, predictors of choosing LAI and the reasons for reluctance to accept LAI were also evaluated.
Methods: The survey included the questionnaire about participants' demographic characteristics, prior knowledge about LAI, attitude towards the importance of medication or psychotherapy and acceptance for LAI - treatment. The acceptance rate for LAI was re-evaluated after providing short information about current LAI or to the hypothetical questions like if there are a 3-ms lasting injection or the cost of injection is cheap.
Result: This study included 161 patients and 113 caregivers who completed a cross-sectional survey. Following exposure to LAI information, acceptance rates for this method of treatment did not change in all groups. However, acceptance rates increased significantly when asked if the cost of LAI was cheaper than the current oral medication and the effect of LAI lasted for 3 months. Significant predictors of acceptance of LAI in patients with first-episode psychosis were prior knowledge about LAI, attitudes towards the importance of medication and discomfort due to medication side-effects.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that a substantial portion of patients with first- and multiple-episode psychoses and their caregivers prefer LAI over their current oral medication. The acceptance of LAI was not increased by providing succinct information concerning this method of treatment.
Keywords: caregiver; first-episode psychosis; long-acting injection.
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