Study Setting
The study objectives were addressed via a descriptive cross-sectional
face-to-face survey, conducted in Jarash, Jordan, from August to
November 2019. Jerash is located in Northern
Jordan, and although it has
a population of about 50,745, it is surrounded by a large number of
remote and rural areas that lack specialized hospitals, making Jarash
Hospital (located in the city of Jarash Governorate) the center of care
and medication provision for many patients.
Data were collected from patients diagnosed with psychological
conditions visiting the out-patient psychiatric clinic at Jerash
Hospital, following the specialists’ informed consent. Ethics approval
was obtained from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private
University. Participation in the study did not pose any risk to patients
and was voluntary. Patients who accepted to participate in the study and
met all of the inclusion criteria were informed about the nature of the
study and were asked to provide a written consent before participation.
The inclusion criteria were patients above 18 years of age, diagnosed by
a specialist with a psychiatric disorder, and is currently taking a
medication for a psychiatric disorder with no change in treatment and/or
dose for the past one month. Exclusion criteria included the presence of
a cognitive problem or a sensory impairment which could prevent
communication with the patient, those who rely on their
parents/caregivers to visit the psychiatric clinic in order to obtain
their medication/s (hence physically were not present), and patients not
able to write and/or read Arabic.