Effects of a Peer Support Programme on Medication Adherence and Subjective Recovery in Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Yakişir A., Çetinkaya Duman Z.

Issues in Mental Health Nursing, vol.10, no.1, pp.1-13, 2026 (SSCI)

Abstract

Peer support is increasingly recognised in schizophrenia care, but evidence of its effects on medication adherence and recovery remains limited. This study examined a structured, face-to-face peer support programme in community mental health centres. A non-randomised quasi-experimental time-series study allocated 40 participants by centre to intervention and comparison groups, assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 9-month follow-up. The intervention comprised eight peer-led group sessions delivered under a structured framework and professional supervision. Outcomes were assessed using the Scale of Medication Adherence in Individuals Diagnosed with Mental Illness and the Subjective Recovery Assessment Scale. Mixed-design analyses demonstrated significant group-by-time interactions for both medication adherence and subjective recovery. Medication adherence and subjective recovery improved in the intervention group and were largely maintained at follow-up, whereas no comparable improvement occurred in the comparison group. Although the non-randomised design requires cautious interpretation, the observed pattern suggests that structured peer support may represent a feasible and promising adjunct to routine community mental health services for individuals with schizophrenia. The findings also highlight the relevance of integrating recovery-oriented peer interventions into community-based mental health nursing practice, particularly in settings where nurses play a central role in care coordination, continuity, and the implementation of structured psychosocial interventions.