Effects of a Self-Management Program for Community Dwelling Patients with Chronic Mental Illness

간호학생을 활용한 재가 만성정신질환자의 자기관리 프로그램 개발 및 효과

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a self-management program for community dwelling patients with chronic mental illness so that they could improve their daily living skills and interpersonal relationships. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The participants with chronic mental illness were recruited from a community mental health center. Twenty-two participants were assigned to the intervention group and 19 to the control group. The self-management was provided by 8 trained nursing students, and consisted of 8 sessions including education and practice. Each session was composed of strategies to improve self-care of community dwelling patients with chronic mental illness. Baseline and post-intervention measurements were done using a daily living skill performance scale and interpersonal relationship instrument. Results: Scores for daily living skill performance were not statistically significant, but scores for interpersonal relationship were statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of this study show that the self-management program had a positive impact on patients with chronic mental disorders. Therefore, it is suggested that the program could be used as an effective nursing intervention for patients with chronic mental disorders being cared for in community mental health centers.