Family-Involved Psychoeducation by the Pharmacist and Nurse Counselor: Change in Family Support, Depression, and Quality of Life in People Living with HIV/AIDS

Background: Depressive symptoms are frequently observed in patients with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and can undermine both family support and quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate changes in family support, depression, and quality of life following psychoeducation delivered by pharmacists and HIV/AIDS counselors, and to analyze the extent to which changes in depression contribute to changes in family support and quality of life among PLWHA. Methods: This single-group, quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study used purposive sampling and was conducted from July to September 2026 at the HIV clinic of RSU Haji Medan (Haji General Hospital) in North Sumatera. A total of 99 adults who met the eligibility criteria attended three monthly sessions of education, counseling, and support, together with a family member, delivered by pharmacists and HIV/AIDS nurse counselors. Outcomes were measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (family support), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (depression), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-HIV BREF (quality of life). Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, Pearson correlation, and an exploratory within-participant mediation analysis with 10,000 bootstrap resamples. Results: Family support scores increased by 9.26 points (95% CI 7.60-10.93), depression scores decreased by 4.10 points (95% CI 3.17-5.03), and quality of life scores improved by 0.42 points (95% CI 0.16-0.69). The reduction in depression was associated with improved quality of life (indirect effect 0.34; 95% CI 0.11-0.62) and accounted for 30.2% of the increase in family support (95% CI 14.3%-49.3%); the reverse model fitted the data equally well. At baseline, family support was significantly correlated with quality of life (r= 0.468). Conclusion: Psychoeducation delivered by pharmacists and HIV/AIDS counselors, with family involvement, was accompanied by greater family support, better quality of life, and lower depression among HIV/AIDS patients. Controlled studies are required to establish the causal pathways.