Applying the health belief model to the rational use of drugs for hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Non-rational use of drugs is a common problem among people with chronic disease. The Health Belief Model (HBM) can develop beliefs and behaviors related to rational drug use. Objectives To investigate the effect of HBM-based training on the rational use of drugs in hemodialysis patients. Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 132 people receiving hemodialysis treatment. The data were collected using a Demographic Survey and the Rational Use of Drugs Scale (RUDS). Patients in the study groups were provided with HBM-based rational use of drugs training. The first training session took an average of 30–35 min for each patient, and the second (summary) took an average of 15–20 min Results The mean RUDS pretest score was 60.29 ± 10.17 in the intervention group and 62.85 ± 9.94 in the control group. The mean RUDS posttest scores were 78.80 ± 8.16 in the intervention group and 63.48 ± 9.77 in the control group. The difference between the pretest scores in these groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), whereas the difference between the posttest scores was found to be significant (p  Conclusion It was observed that training based on the HBM increased the RUD scores. Thus, HBM may be recommended for use as a guide for rational drug use training, especially for patients undergoing hemodialysis. Practice implications The HBM can be an effective and cost-efficient strategy for standardized rational drug use training and supporting hemodialysis patients.