Empowerment perception and health-related quality of life among schizophrenic patients

Objective: The study aims to explore the perception of empowerment, HRQoL and their relationship in schizophrenia patients in rehabilitation ward. Methods: Cross-sectional correlational design and convenience sampling were used to recruit 102 subjects from rehabilitation wards of a psychiatric hospital in southern Taiwan. Three instruments were used: the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Empowerment Scale (subscales: self-esteem and self-efficacy, power-powerlessness, righteous anger, and community autonomy), and the Taiwanese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) with four domains (physical health, psychological, social relationship, and environment). Results: (1) Overall empowerment perception and overall HRQoL were at a moderate and above level in patients with schizophrenia in rehabilitation ward. (2) Older patients having a lower empowerment perception with power-powerlessness than youngers; the more severe the psychiatric symptoms, the lower the righteous anger. (3) Male patients scored higher than female patients on overall HRQoL and “environment” domain. The duration of mental illness also influenced at “environment” domain, 6-10 years group scored higher than ≤ 5 years group. (4) Actively participate in rehabilitation activities correlated positively; psychiatric symptoms correlated negatively with overall HRQoL and with each individual domain. (5) Empowerment perception correlated positively with overall HRQoL and with each individual domain. Conclusions: Mental health workers should assist chronic schizophrenic patients in coping with their psychiatric symptoms, allow patients to express negative emotions, and provide opportunities for patients to make their own decisions and exercise their own rights.