Effects of Self-efficacy Program of Using Hermit Exercise towards Exercise Habits and Immune System Level (CD4) in AIDS Patients

Abstract

The epidemic problem of AIDS has become a global problem. There’s no medication that could successfully cure Aids. The best way to help is to boost the immune system (CD4) of the patients or to maintain it. This study was a quasi-experimental research with two groups that evaluated pre, middle and post intervention. The study was designed to compare behaviors concerning knowledge, attitudes, practice, and immune system (CD4) between those groups. The samples were AIDS patients at hospital, Uthai Thani province. Sample was 40 patients by purposive sampling. The samples were divided into experimental and control group each group composed of 20. The research instrument was self-efficacy program of using hermit exercise, by using self-efficacy theory and hermit exercise as the conceptual framework. The intervention period was 24 weeks. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, paired t-test, independent t-test, and Repeated Measure ANOVA. Finding showed that: 1. Mean scores behaviors concerning knowledge, attitudes, practice of experimental group after the program of using hermit exercise ฉ statistically significant higher than before intervention (p <.001), and mean score of immune system (CD4) was statistically significant higher than before intervention (p <.05). 2. Mean scores behaviors concerning knowledge, attitudes, practice of the experimental group after intervention were statistically significant higher than the control group (p < .001), and mean scores of immune system (CD4) of the experimental group was statistically significant higher than the control group (p < .05). The findings of this study indicated that the program of using hermit exercise towards exercise habits could be used as health behavior change in AIDS patients which in competency immune system (CD4) in a higher level . Keywords: Self-efficacy program, exercise, immune system (CD4), AIDS patients.