Psychometric properties of Drug Attitude Inventory among patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: The treatment of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia has remained three-fold physical (pharmacological), psychological and social. Furthermore, the need to monitor adherence to the physical aspect of treatment has been a major concern to mental health practitioners as this usually affects the success of psychological and social treatment. AIM: My study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) among patients with schizophrenia. The study was carried out at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro Abeokuta Ogun State and on an average, about 150 patients were seen daily at the outpatient clinic. METHODS: Internal consistency, item-total correlation (the two-way mixed method with absolute agreement) and Cronbach’s alpha were evaluated using an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). This instrument’s level of adequacy was determined using factor analysis (principal component analysis with varimax rotation). RESULT: Marital status and level of education were significantly associated with adherence. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.56 and principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation produced a three-factor solution. CONCLUSION: My study has shown that the DAI is a valid and reliable instrument and can be used in a clinical setting where there are limitations with time such as the outpatient clinic.