Most people living with HIV who receive dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy at Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital in Ethiopia know what the drug does, hold positive attitudes toward it, and report good treatment practices, according to a cross-sectional study published in AIDS Research and Therapy. The survey of 308 patients, conducted between September 1 and November 30, 2024, found that 76.0 percent had good knowledge of the regimen, an identical 76.0 percent showed a positive attitude, and 94.2 percent reported good treatment practices. The findings come as Ethiopia has adopted dolutegravir-based therapy as its preferred first-line regimen, following a World Health Organization recommendation built on the drug’s high efficacy, favourable safety profile, and high genetic barrier to resistance.

The research team, led by Aliyi Gerina with colleagues including Woyesa Elema, Kedir Husen, and Bahiru Bergene, carried out an institution-based cross-sectional survey at the hospital. They recruited 308 participants who were receiving dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy. Data collection relied on a pre-tested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from previous knowledge, attitude, and practice studies. Rather than treating each knowledge or attitude item in isolation, the researchers combined responses into composite scores and categorized participants using the mean score as the cut-off point, classifying respondents as above or below the average level observed in the sample.

The participants ranged widely in age. The researchers entered the collected data into Epi Data version 4.6 and analyzed it with SPSS version 27, using descriptive statistics to summarize the results. Because the study was cross-sectional, it captured a snapshot of knowledge, attitudes, and practices at a single period rather than tracking changes over time, and its findings describe this single hospital population rather than all people living with HIV in Ethiopia.

The headline numbers were consistent across the three domains. Good knowledge was reported by 234 participants, or 76.0 percent, with a 95 percent confidence interval of 71.2 to 80.7 percent. A positive attitude was also recorded for 234 participants, again 76.0 percent with the same confidence interval. Good treatment practices were reported by 290 participants, or 94.2 percent, with a 95 percent confidence interval of 91.6 to 96.8 percent.

Beneath the aggregate figures, the study identified specific strengths and weaknesses in what patients understood. Most participants correctly identified the effectiveness of dolutegravir-based therapy and the importance of adherence to it. However, knowledge gaps remained in two areas that carry practical consequences: the use of dolutegravir during pregnancy and the potential adverse effects of the drug.

The authors concluded that approximately three-quarters of the participants demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitudes toward dolutegravir-based therapy, while the vast majority reported good treatment practices. They also emphasized that important knowledge and attitude gaps remain regarding specific aspects of the therapy. Their proposed response is not a change in the drug itself but in the support surrounding it: strengthening structured patient education and routine counseling, which they suggest may improve treatment literacy and support the successful implementation of dolutegravir-based therapy in Ethiopia.

The study’s design shapes how its results should be read. As an institution-based cross-sectional survey with 308 participants at a single teaching hospital, it offers a detailed picture of one clinic’s patient population during a defined three-month window in 2024. The authors note that the questionnaire was adapted from previous knowledge, attitude, and practice studies and pre-tested before use, which supports the comparability of the measurement approach with earlier work in the field.

What the study adds is a grounded measurement of treatment literacy in a setting where dolutegravir has become the standard of care. The study was published open access on October 7, 2026, and is citable under its permanent DOI.

Subject of Research: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV at an Ethiopian teaching hospital

Article Title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV receiving ART at Bule Hora University steaching hospital, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Article References: Gerina, A., Elema, W., Husen, K., & Bergene, B. (2026). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV receiving ART at Bule Hora University steaching hospital, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. AIDS Research and Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-026-00959-1

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12981-026-00959-1

Keywords: dolutegravir, antiretroviral therapy, HIV, Ethiopia, cross-sectional study, patient knowledge, treatment adherence, WHO first-line regimen, patient education, counseling, AIDS Research and Therapy, treatment literacy