Empowerment Intervention Program on Perceived Discrimination and Internalized Stigma among Patients with schizophrenia

H. Mostfa, Mona; A. Khalil, Mohamed; M. Mohamed, Sayeda; A. Mohamed, Nareman

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2022.270421

Empowerment Intervention Program on Perceived Discrimination and Internalized Stigma among Patients with schizophrenia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Psychiatric Nursing-Faculty of Nursing-Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

² Psychiatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

³ Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ejhc.2022.270421

Abstract

Aim: This study assessed the effectiveness of an empowerment intervention program on discrimination
and internalized stigma among patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Design: A pre-post-test non-
equivalent group design was used in this study. Setting: in-patient male departments in the Psychiatry
and Addiction Prevention University Hospital. Sample: A purposive sample consisting of 30 patients
diagnosed with schizophrenia was randomly assigned and divided into two groups (study and control
groups). Tools: The current study gathered data using three tools: personal data sheet, an internalized
stigma scale, and an amended apparent devaluation discrimination scale. Results: At baseline, there were
statistically significant differences between the control group and the internalized stigma total (p=0.003)
and subscales alienation (p=0.001), stereotype endorsement (p=0.009), and perceived discrimination
(p=0.023). With patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the empowerment intervention sessions
significantly reduced internalized stigma and revised perceived devaluation discrimination, resulting in
lower mean internalized stigma and revised perceived devaluation discrimination scores for the study
group compared to the control group. The Revised Perceived Devaluation Discrimination also decreased
significantly after the empowerment intervention program (p= 0.001).Conclusion: This study indicated
that the empowering intervention was effective when it is integrated with treatment as usual.

Keywords