Zabihollah Gharlipour - Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
Siamak Mohebi - Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
Gholamreza Sharifirad - Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Qom Branch, Qom, Iran.
Javad Yadegari - Department of Health Education, School of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

Background: Antiretroviral treatment could reduce the mortality rate of HIV and prevent the disease progression and prolonging their life span. The present study aimed to assess the effects of education based on expanded health belief model on the treatment adherence of AIDS patients. Methods: This study was conducted on ۷۲ AIDS patients. The subjects were divided into two groups of intervention and control. Data were collected using a questionnaire and Morisky medication adherence scale. After the pre-test, training sessions were implemented for the intervention group. Post-test was completed after three months. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version ۲۲ using independent t-test, Chi-square, and univariate analysis of covariance. Results: No significant differences were observed in perceived susceptibility (P = ۰.۱۹), perceived benefits (P = ۰.۳۱), perceived barriers (P = ۰.۹۲), perceived self-efficacy (P = ۰.۱۴), and perceived social support (P = ۰.۱۵). However, significant differences were denoted in perceived severity (P = ۰.۰۱) and treatment adherence (P < ۰.۰۱) between intervention and control group in the post-test phase. Conclusion: According to the results, the expanded health belief model could be used in the training of AIDS patients to enhance their health beliefs, which in turn increases their adherence to antiretroviral treatment.

Health, AIDS, Drug Adherence