Objects:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the brief program of family education in helping families of inpatients with schizophrenia.

Methods:

The education group consisted of twenty people who were families of inpatients with schizophrenia and who attended the brief program of family education. Ten people who were families of inpatients with schizophrenia and who didn't attend the brief program of family education comprised the comparison group. Four self=report questionnaires assessing global anxiety(Anxiety Questionnaire), worry related to patient(Worry Questionnaire), rejection feeling to patient(Rejection Questionnaire), and knowledge about schizophrenia(Knowledge Questionnaire) were administered to the education group and to the comparison group, twice at the pre-test and post-test.

Results :

1) In the education group, scores of Knowledge Questionnaire(t=5.43, df=19, p<0.01) at the post-test were significantly higher than those at the pre-test. Scores of Worry Questionnaire(t=-3.03, df=19, p<0.01) and Rejection Questionnaire t=-2.34 df=19, p<0.05) at the post-test were significantly lower than those at the pre-test. In comparison group, scores of Knowledge Questionnaire were significantly higher at the post-test compared to those at the pre-test(t=1.86, df=19, p<0.05). However, the change in comparison group was not as divergent as in the education group.

2) Differences between the pre-test scores and the post-test scores in each questionnaire were sought. In the education group, significant negative correlation existed between calculated differences of Knowledge Questionnaire and Anxiety Questionnaire(r=-0.56, p<0.01), between Knowledge Questionnaire and Worry Questionnaire(r=-0.57, p<0.01), and significant positive correlation existed between Anxiety Questionnaire and Worry Questionnaire(r=0.55, p<0.01). In the comparison group, significant negative correlation existed between Knowledge Questionnaire and Worry Questionnaire(r=-0.60, p<0.05).

3) The author also assessed the relationship between calculated differences of the pre-test scores from the post-test scores in each questionnaire and demographic characteristics. In the education group, significant positive correlation existed between calculated difference of Anxiety Questionnaire nd duration of illness(r=0.39, p<0.05), between Anxiety Questionnaire and educational level of family(rs=0.43, p<0.05), between Worry Questionnaire and duration of illness(r=0.49, p<0.05) and between Worry Questionnaire and educational level of family(rs=0.45, p<0.05). In control group, significant positive correlation existed between Worry Questionnaire and age of family(r=0.64, p<0.05) and significant negative correlation existed between Worry Questionnaire and educational level of family(rs=-0.74, p<0.01).

Conclusion:

The brief program of family education was effective in increasing knowledge about schizophrenia, decreasing of worry related to the patients and rejection feeling about the patients in families of inpatienis with schizophrenia.