Effects of a Protection Motivation Theory Program on Antiretroviral Medication Adherence Among HIV Patients Who Missed Appointments at Detudom Crown Prince Hospital

Abstract

This single-group experimental research aimed to investigate the effects of a Protection Motivation Theory program on antiretroviral medication adherence and motivation among HIV patients who missed appointments. The samples consisted of 42 HIV patients who had missed appointments for more than one week in the past year, selected by purposive sampling. Participants engaged in activities on two occasions, 4 weeks apart. Data were collected before and after the intervention using questionnaires measuring antiretroviral medication adherence and motivation to take HIV antiretroviral medications for preventing drug resistance, measured across 4 dimensions. In week 1, questionnaire data were collected before patients participated in the program. In week 4, patients participated in the program again, and in week 8, the program was evaluated using the same questionnaires. Statistics used for analysis included mean, standard deviation, and hypothesis testing using Paired Sample t-test.

The results showed that the proportion of consistent antiretroviral medication adherence after the experiment (90.48%) was higher than before the experiment (28.57%). Overall motivation to take HIV antiretroviral medication after the experiment (M=2.29, SD=0.23) was higher than before the experiment (M=1.59, SD=0.33). The highest improvement was in the perception of outcomes from practices to prevent drug resistance: after the experiment (M=2.33, SD=0.26) compared to before the experiment (M=1.57, SD=0.33), with statistical significance (p<0.05). In conclusion, the application of Protection Motivation Theory can promote consistency in taking antiretroviral medications and increase motivation to take antiretroviral medications among HIV patients who missed appointments.