The effect of social skill training among schizophrenic patients on social skill development in selected psychiatric ward of different hospitals in Odisha

Background: Schizophrenia as a severe mental disorder characterized by profound deficits in thinking, perception, affect and social behaviour (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014). Schizophrenia is treatable. Treatment with medicines and psychosocial support is effective. Methods: Quantitative approach with true experimental research design was adopted. Total 60 schizophrenic patients were selected for the study using purposive sampling technique. Subjects were randomly assigned into the experimental (n=30) and control group (n=30). Social skill training was given to experimental group. The training includes discussion, questioning, group activity, role play. The tools used to collect the data were as follows: (1) Demographic questionnaire (2) Standardized tool social adaptive functioning evaluation. Baseline assessment was done on the 1st day, then pre-test was done and the social skill training was implemented in experimental group on the same day. The training includes six sessions of discussion, questioning, group activity, role play etc. given for seven days followed by post-test was done in both the experimental as well as control group. The data analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS 21 version. Results: The mean post-test social skill score in experimental group (38.90±11.813) and in control group is (30.97±11.556) which shows the significant difference in social skill score between the groups (t=2.629, P= 0.005472*). There was a significant association found between the education (chi square= 15.890, P= 0.043), social skill training programme (chi square= 6.058, P= 0.048). Conclusions: Thus, the training regarding social skill was effective in improving level of social skill among schizophrenic patient.