Medicines with Respect : developing an integrated collaborative approach to medication management

This article is the first of a two-part retrospective view of a medication management project across all the mental health acute admission wards in Sheffield during 2000. This development arose out of the National In-patient Practice Development Network, facilitated by Penny West and Ian Norman at King's College, London. The main objectives of the 'Network' were to: Support practical, evidence-based care in mental health acute in-patient settings.

Help change the culture of in-patient care to a more user-focused model. Raise the profile of good quality mental health in patient care.

'Medicines with Respect' is a patient-developed, evidence-based practice initiative that takes into consideration the issues of compliance and concordance in the management of mental health problems. It seeks to increase nursing knowledge on the administration and management of medicines in care settings and bases its philosophical underpinnings on a well recognised model, the 'Health Belief Model', to guide practice (Rosenstock, 1974; Becker, 1974, 1978; Jann and Becker, 1984). This model posits that people make decisions based on susceptibility, severity and the perceived cost/benefit of treatment.

This paper outlines the initial findings (Phase 1) of the medication management project, which led to the development of a two-week intensive medication management programme, the development and implementation of a medication administration assessment and the introduction of facilitated groups on each ward, run by pharmacy and nurses collaboratively, to help support clients with their medication management needs.