Factors influencing treatment dropout among patients in Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) of Tehran city, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The current research aims at investigating the effect of demographic features such as educational level, gender, type of disorder, and physician's empathy and emotional intelligence on Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) patients’ treatment dropout. Materials and Methods: A sample of 4101 patients and 26 physicians were selected. Patients’ information was collected through CMHC registration software (information was already saved on the software since the centers have been established). Information related to physicians was also collected via two questionnaires, namely Bar-On EQ Inventory, and Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE), merely after consent forms were filled out. Based on the type of data, the collected information was transferred into nominal data, and later analyzed through Chi-square test via SPSS software. Results: The results of the current research suggested that the more empathetic a physician is, the less likely patients’ treatment dropout would be. Moreover, there was no significant relationship between the EI average score and treatment dropout. There was only a significant relationship between treatment dropout and adaptability, an EI competency. The findings of the current research indicated that none of the patients’ demographic variables (gender, educational level, and type of disorder) had a significant relationship with treatment dropout. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, physicians’ communication skills, empathy, and adaptability did not significantly contribute to their patients’ treatment dropout.

Keywords

• Adaptability
• Emotional intelligence
• Empathy
• Treatment dropout