Effectiveness of a Health Belief Model-based Educational Intervention on Treatment Adherence Among Type ۲ Diabetic Patients: Insights from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Iran

Background: Diabetes is a significant and costly health problem worldwide, requiring effective interventions to improve adherence. The aim of this study was to increase treatment adherence in patients with type ۲ diabetes using constructs from the Health Belief Model (HBM). Methods: An educational intervention consisting of four sessions was conducted on ۱۰۰ patients with type ۲ diabetes referred to the Diabetes Clinic affiliated with the Social Security Organization in Mobarakeh, Isfahan province, Iran. The mean difference before and after the intervention in HBM constructs and self-efficacy activities was compared using independent t-tests. The association between self-care behaviors before and after the educational intervention in both groups and the expected value of a part of the HBM was examined using linear regression. The threshold for statistical significance was P<۰.۰۵. Results: After the intervention, the mean difference scores for all components of the HBM and self-efficacy increased significantly in the intervention group. In linear regression analysis, perceived vulnerability was the only variable that showed a direct and significant relationship with self-care in the intervention group. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that patient education improved all HBM constructs related to treatment adherence. This underscores the importance and effectiveness of self-care education in controlling blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.