Knowledge attitudes and practices towards long-acting antiretroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS patients

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding long-acting antiretroviral therapy (LA-ART) among HIV/AIDS patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Infection Center of Beijing Youan Hospital between December 2024 and May 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising demographic variables and KAP-related items. A total of 919 questionnaires were collected; after excluding 93 responses (declined consent, abnormal height/weight entries, failed logic-check questions, and uniform responses), 826 valid questionnaires were included in the final analysis, yielding a valid response rate of 89.88%. Most participants resided in urban areas (62.0%) and were currently employed (72.0%), with over half (52.9%) holding an associate or bachelor’s degree. Their knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 14.38 ± 5.52 (possible range: 0–36), 39.71 ± 4.36 (possible range: 12–60), and 22.29 ± 2.99 (possible range: 9–27), respectively. The structural equation modeling results showed that knowledge had direct effects on attitude (β = 0.427, P  = 0.016) and practice (β = 0.132, P  = 0.003). Meanwhile, attitude had a direct impact on practice (β = 0.460, P  = 0.034). Furthermore, knowledge indirectly affected practice through attitude (β = 0.197, P  = 0.014). HIV/AIDS patients demonstrated insufficient knowledge, a generally neutral attitude, yet reported positive practices regarding LA-ART. Future clinical interventions should prioritize structured, evidence-based educational programs to enhance patient understanding and shift attitudes.