A7 7..7

Poor compliance can reduce the efficacy of treatments, resulting in worse health outcomes for patients. Using a randomised design, Gray et al (pp. 157–162) trained community psychiatric nurses for 80 hours in medication management. Independent researchers interviewed their patients and the patients of nurses who did not receive training, at recruitment and 6 months later. Patients who were cared for by nurses who had received the training showed a greater reduction in overall psychopathology compared with treatment as usual. Attitudes towards treatment and compliance also improved more favourably in the intervention group. Given its positive effects, this manualised training package could be disseminated widely.