Background and objective: The use of antiretroviral drugs may affect the quality of life of HIV-infected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of education for adherence to therapy based on health promotion model on quality of life of HIV-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the city of Bushehr, Iran.

Materials and methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study which had been carried out on 61 HIV positive patients under ART. In the intervention group, face to face training of 31 patients was carried out based on health promotion model through two education sessions with a two-week interval also with an educational booklet  of adherence to therapy; and 30 members of the control group received routine cares of the health center during the study period. Data collection tool in this study consisted of demographic characteristics, constructs related to health promotion model, and quality of life questionnaire (SF36). Questionnaires about constructs were answered before, immediately, and three months after education. Questionnaires about adherence to therapy and quality of life were answered before, and three months after education. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, independent t test, chi-square test, ANOVA with repeated measure, and paired t test through SPSS18.

Results: Education caused significant changes in all constructs of health promotion model including belief to therapy, benefits and barriers to adherence, social support and self-adherence (p < 0.001) and positively changed people's attitudes towards therapy. Quality of life in physical, general health, emotional and mental health factors also increased significantly among education (intervention) group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate the effectiveness of training programs to enhance the quality of life of patients in which this change had been achieved through impact on patients' beliefs and attitudes on adherence to therapy.

Paper Type: Research Article.