Effectiveness of therapeutic patient education (TPE) on the virological evolution of patients living with HIV/AIDS: Case of five health centers in Côte d'Ivoire

Background: The objective of this work was to present the methodological approach to therapeutic education in five health centers in Côte d'Ivoire and its impact on the virological evolution of patients enrolled in this process. Methods: This study involved a cohort of 739 adult patients with unsuppressed viral load over the period from January to March 2019. The variables studied were the sex of the patients, the number of therapeutic education sessions performed, the viral status and the virological evolution that whether or not it is favorable based on the 1 log decrease in the last viral load after therapeutic education. Results: The results obtained presented therapeutic education on these sites as an elaborate process in which the patient himself is a major player in the management of his disease and its adaptation to it; his way of life and that of his loved ones. However, only 136 patients or 18 % of this cohort actually benefited from therapeutic education. 51 % of them experienced a difference in viral status from patients with non-suppressed viral load to patients with suppressed viral load. Based on the 1-log decrease in the last viral load, these results showed that 60 % of patients who participate in therapeutic education experience a positive significant virological evolution. The Chi-square independence test showed no dependence on the sex of the patients, the number of sessions with viral status. Conclusion: This study has shown the importance of therapeutic education in the care of patients living with HIV and its necessary and essential consideration for achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals.