• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.261-283
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• 2004

This study verified the effectiveness of brief family education programs for schizophrenic outpatients and their families in a community social welfare center, using a pre - post test control group design. The results of this study verified that the program was effective to improve knowledge about schizophrenia, reduce feelings of rejection and anxiety about patients, and help the patients to recognize their family emotional support. Therefore, it was found in this study that the brief family education program in the community social welfare center had a positive impact on schizophrenic outpatients and their families' treatment and rehabilitation. From the results of this study, it can be seen that this program positively effects the treatment and rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients and the stability of their families. The program can also be easily utilized as a community resource. Furthermore, the results of this study can be utilized as fundamental support to suggest the need for mental health programs in community social welfare centers. This study suggested the importance of increasing the number of mental health professionals working in this arena. There is also a need to create additional supportive programs for schizophrenic outpatients and their families. Follow up care also needs to be provided to families after completing family education programs. Continuous study is needed in these areas.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate stress and coping strategy in the families of schizophrenic patient, and changes of knowledge, stress and coping strategy after brief program of family education compared with control group Methods : The education group consisted of twenty four people who were families with schizophrenic patients and attended the brief program of family education. The control group consisted of twenty two people with schizophrenic inpatients. Self-report questionnaires such as Family Coping Questionnaire(FCQ), Patient Rejection Scale(PRS), Worry Questionnaire, Knowledge Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) were administered to the education group and the control group, twice at the pre-test and post-test. Results : 1) In the education group, scores of worry questionnaire, BDI and STAI-S at the post-test were significantly lower than those at the pre-test. Social interests score of FCQ and knowledge questionnaire score at the post-test were significantly higher than those at the pre-test. In FCQ factors, social interests associated with avoidance strategy score at the post-test was significantly higher than that at the pre-test. However, in the control group, there was no significant difference in all questionnaires. 2) In the education group, significant positive correlation existed between calculated differences of worry questionnaire and STAI-S, and between worry questionnaire and STAI-T, whereas significant negative correlation existed between positive communication of FCQ and PRS, and between knowledge questionnaire and STAI-S. In the control group, significant negative correlation existed between information of FCQ and PRS, and between positive communication of FCQ and PRS. 3) In the education group, significant positive correlation existed between calculated differences of worry questionnaire and age of patient, whereas significant negative correlation existed between knowledge questionnaire and duration of illness. However, in the control group, there was no significant correlation. Conclusion : The brief program of family education was effective in increasing knowledge about schizophrenia, decreasing worry and anxiety about the patients in families with schizophrenic patient. In the education group as knowledge about schizophrenia increased, anxiety about schizophrenic patient decreased, but there was no significant correlation in the control group. As relative's rejection feeling about schizophrenic patient decreased, positive communication strategy increased in both groups. However, the control group was more affected by rejection feeling than the education group.