What is the "Guideline Adherence Rate"?> Japanese
The "Guideline Adherence Rate" allows for the individual assessment of whether a patient's treatment aligns with the guidelines for pharmacological therapy. In clinical settings, psychiatrists can objectively review their own treatment decisions and share these evaluations with patients. As a result, the "Guideline Adherence Rate" is intended to support shared decision-making, enabling physicians and patients to collaboratively refine treatment plans.
The introduction of the "Guideline Adherence Rate" is expected to have several benefits. First, it enhances treatment quality. Physicians will be more conscious of referring to treatment guidelines, and patients will become more aware of what constitutes high-quality care, encouraging them to more actively engage in their treatment decisions. As a result, evidence-based, high-quality treatment will be more widely administered. Furthermore, implementing the "Guideline Adherence Rate" at the hospital level can contribute to the standardization and consistency of psychiatric treatment across medical institutions.
There are several important considerations regarding the "Guideline Adherence Rate." The most crucial point is that the "Guideline Adherence Rate" is merely a reference value, not an absolute standard. In clinical practice, patients' circumstances often vary, such as the presence of comorbidities, which may make non-standardized treatments an optimal choice. Additionally, as the "Guideline Adherence Rate" focuses on evaluating pharmacological therapy, it may not fully capture the importance of nonpharmacological treatments such as psychosocial interventions.
The "Guideline Adherence Rate" is a new indicator designed to improve the quality of psychiatric treatment. The promotion of standardized treatments enables more patients to receive high-quality care. Moreover, it is essential to use the "Guideline Adherence Rate" with flexibility while respecting the unique characteristics and preferences of individual patients.
Furthermore, several studies using the "Guideline Adherence Rate" have revealed associations with various clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.
- A negative correlation between the "Guideline Adherence Rate" and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (Kodaka et al., 2023). *Although patients with schizophrenia often present with severe psychiatric symptoms, this study revealed that a higher "Guideline Adherence Rate" was associated with milder symptoms.
- A positive correlation between the "Guideline Adherence Rate" and working hours (Ito et al., 2023). *Although patients with schizophrenia often present with reduced working capacity, this study revealed that a higher "Guideline Adherence Rate" was associated with longer working hours.
- A positive correlation between the "Guideline Adherence Rate" and memory function (Kawamata et al., 2025). *Although patients with schizophrenia typically exhibit cognitive impairments, including memory deficits, compared with healthy individuals, this study revealed that a higher "Guideline Adherence Rate" was associated with better memory function.
*By clicking the link, you can access the original article of each study.
