Abstract

Families often encounter a sense of despair and exhibit diminished capability when providing care for schizophrenia patients, predominantly due to restricted knowledge and lack of formal training and support. Existing strategies to empower families have been insufficient in effectively dealing with schizophrenia care. This study objective was to explore the relationship between family knowledge, coping skills, and interaction within the framework of outside-in empowerment and their ability to care for individuals with schizophrenia. This explanatory research utilizes a cross-sectional design and involves a sample of 135 families, acting as caregivers for schizophrenia patients, selected through purposive sampling based on inclusion criteria. Regarding outside-in empowerment, knowledge is evaluated using a questionnaire developed from the concept of schizophrenia care, coping skills are measured using the Family Coping Questionnaire (FCQ), and family interaction is assessed through the Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS). The family’s ability to manage schizophrenia is gauged using the Barthel Index and the Caregiving Tasks in Caring for an Adult with Mental Illness Scale (CTiCAMIS). All of the questionnaire has been tested for validity and reliability.The data analysis involves multiple linear regression at a 95% significance level. The study reveals that knowledge (p=0.018 <0.005), coping skills (p=0.004 <0.005), and family interaction as part of outsidein empowerment significantly correlate with the family’s ability to manage schizophrenia (p=0.001 <0.005). Notably, the ability for family interaction (ß=0.392) is a predictor of the family’s capability to care for schizophrenia patients (p=0.042 <0.05). Enhancing family interactions is crucial to empower families in managing schizophrenia patients. This enhancement can be facilitated by fostering cohesion, minimizing conflicts, and effectively managing the caregiving burden associated with schizophrenia.