Objective To explore the effectiveness of transitional care on medication adherence, self-efficacy and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia during the convalescent stage. Methods Sixty-four patients with schizophrenia during the convalescent stage were divided into a control group and an intervention group according to community of residence, with 32 cases in each group.The control group was given routine nursing care and discharge education, as well as a post discharge phone call, while the intervention group additionally received transitional care including post-discharge follow-ups (phone calls and home visits), educational lectures on rehabilitation and community-based rehabilitation. Patients in both groups were surveyed by using a self-designed questionnaire regarding medication adherence, the General Self-efficacy Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale （WHOQOL-BREF） before and after 12 weeks (intervention completion).The recurrence rate was also compared between the two groups 12 weeks after the end of the intervention period. Results Medication adherence, self-efficacy and quality of life were significantly higher, whereas recurrence rate was significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group （all P＜0.05）. Conclusion Transitional care can improve medication compliance, self-efficacy and quality of life and reduce the recurrence rate in patients with schizophrenia during the convalescent stage.