Demographic correlates of medication knowledge in Hong Kong early psychosis patients

Aim Patient knowledge of prescribed medications is important for accurate medication consumption. Not many studies have identified the demographic correlates of medication knowledge in psychiatric patients, and fewer have performed so for non-Western societies, which may present different results owing to distinct cultural factors. Our objective was to identify the demographic correlates of medication knowledge in early psychosis patients from Hong Kong. Methods A short questionnaire comprising questions on six components of medication knowledge was administered to 105 consecutive early psychosis patients from an outpatient clinic in Hong Kong. A suite of patient demographics was assembled from clinicians' records. Results Poor medication knowledge was characterized by patients of older age (>30 years), low education level (≤Form 3), overall negative family relationships (as compared with overall positive ones) and shorter treatment duration (≤4 years). Shorter treatment duration most consistently predicted poor medication knowledge, displaying significant (P < 0.05) associations with four out of six knowledge components. Patients (54.3%) did not know the English names of their medication. Conclusions Specific groups of early psychosis patients are at risk of having poor medication knowledge; these individuals should be identified to receive regular health education. Contrary to findings from non-psychosis groups, short treatment duration was unequivocally associated with poorer medication knowledge in patients with early psychosis. Local replacements for English medication names should be considered in non-English speaking societies, especially in areas of mental health treatment.