The Effect of Telenursing on Functionality and Treatment Adherence in Bipolar Disorder

This research is a randomized controlled experimental study with a pretest‐posttestdesign, conducted to determine the effect of telenursing counseling on functionality andtreatment adherence levels in patients with bipolar disorder.First, patients followed up with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at the Community MentalHealth Center (CMHC) were evaluated by the researcher through face‐to‐face interviews interms of the inclusion criteria. Patients who met the criteria and voluntarily agreed toparticipate in the study were informed about the research, and their written informedconsent was obtained. Subsequently, the participants were assigned to the experimentaland control groups by an independent faculty member using a stratified blockrandomization method. Following the randomization process, a nurse working at theCommunity Mental Health Center administered the Descriptive Information Form, the ShortFunctioning Assessment Scale, and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale to both groupsface‐to‐face as a pretest.After the baseline measurements, an eight‐week telenursing counseling intervention wasimplemented with the patients in the experimental group. No intervention was provided tothe control group; they only received standard treatment and care services. At the end ofthe eight‐week period, the same nurse working at the CMHC administered the SFAS and MMASscales again, and the posttest measurements were obtained.