Background: The helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects more than half of the world's
population and is associated with the development of 78% of all gastric cancers
primarily in developing countries. Patients' education is vital in preventing
intrafamilial transmission as well as in improving medication adherence for H. Pylori
eradication therapy. Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of an educational
intervention on improving medication adherence, knowledge, and practice regarding
intrafamilial transmission among helicobacter pylori patients. Methodology: Quasi
experimental research design (Pre/post-test) was utilized. Sample: A purposive sample
of two hundred patients met the following inclusion criteria; patients aged ≥ 18 yrs. of
both sexes, diagnosed with H. pylori infection by positive stool antigen test, and under
the same strategy of H. pylori eradication therapy. Setting: The current study was
carried out at the medical clinic of Minia university hospital, Minia governorate,
Egypt. Tools of data collection: Two tools were utilized to collect data; 1st one: Is a
Structured interviewing questionnaire sheet covered three parts (demographic data,
knowledge assessment questionnaire regarding to the H. pylori infection, and self
reported practices regarding its intrafamilial transmission), and the 2nd one:
Medication adherence scale. Results: It was founded that near to three-quarters of
the intervention group adhered to H. pylori eradication therapy after the educational
intervention compared with only about one-third of the control group. Moreover, there
was a significant improvement in the total score of knowledge and practices among the
study group regarding H. pylori infection and its intrafamilial transmission after
receiving the educational intervention than before. Conclusion: The application of
educational intervention was effective in improving medication adherence, as well as
improving the knowledge and practices regarding H. pylori infection, and its
intrafamilial transmission among infected patients of the study group versus the control
group. Recommendations: General population education must be implemented in
Egypt, especially among at-risk populations around H. pylori infection and its
intrafamilial transmission, as well as the importance of adherence to H. Pylori
eradication therapy especially among older adults.