Sublingual immunotherapy adherence in patients with allergic rhinitis: Effects of an intervention based on the information-motivation-behavioral skills model

Objective: This study aimed to confirm the efficacy of an intervention based on the information-motivation-behavior skills (IMB) model in improving the sublingual immunotherapy adherence score, medication beliefs score, self-efficacy score, and medication knowledge score of patients with allergic rhinitis.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with allergic rhinitis from an otorhinolaryngology clinic were divided into the control group (n = 60) and experimental group (n = 60); the study was conducted from August 2021 to March 2022. The control group received routine intervention, whereas the experimental group received intervention based on the IMB model. The medication adherence, medication beliefs, self-efficacy, and medication knowledge levels of the two groups were evaluated at baseline, post-intervention, at 1-month follow-up, and at 3-month follow-up.

Results: After intervention, a total of 116 patients completed the trial in the experimental and control groups (58 cases each). The results revealed differences in the scores of medication adherence, belief, self-efficacy, and knowledge between the two groups post-intervention, at 1-month follow-up, and at 3-month follow-up (P < 0.05). Further, the scores of the four indexes of the two groups were different with time, and better changes were noted among experimental group participants.

Conclusion: Implementing interventions based on the IMB model for people receiving sublingual immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis can effectively improve patients' medication beliefs, self-efficacy, and knowledge of medication, thereby improving their medication adherence, ensuring efficacy, and providing medication care for outpatients.