The research was planned to examine the effect of the transtheoretic theory-based education given to individuals followed in AMATEM on their sexual risk-taking status, AIDS knowledge level and AIDS prevention self-efficacy.

Research Hypotheses H0: Transtheoretical theory-based education given to individuals followed in AMATEM has no effect on their sexual risk taking, AIDS knowledge level and protection self-efficacy.

H1-1: Transtheoretic theory-based education given to individuals followed in AMATEM has an effect on the level of sexual risk taking.

H1-2: The transtheoretic theory-based education given to individuals followed in AMATEM is A

Substance abuse is a public health problem as old as human history. Globally, increasing substance use disorder has become a public health problem that harms individuals and then societies, and has negative effects on many dimensions such as economic, social and security. In addition to its history dating back to ancient times, the content and effects of the substances used have changed over time and spread more rapidly in societies as a result of the production of easily accessible concentrated forms. Substances of abuse are categorized in two ways. These include a variety of illegal and legally sanctioned substances. The most common types of illegal substances include cannabis, amphetamine, ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy and heroin, which are largely banned in most countries. Tobacco and alcohol are two types of legally sanctioned substances that are widely used by different social groups across different societies and cultures. In the treatment of substance use disorder, behavioral change can be achieved with theory-based training provided in addition to pharmacological treatment. The theory-based approach in nursing practices increases the quality of health services provided and guides nurses. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) or Stages of Change Model developed by Prochaska and Diclemente (1982) describes the change of healthy life behaviors in individuals in stages. As a result of the literature review, it was seen that the transtheoretical model is frequently used in order to reduce symptoms in addiction and other chronic diseases, improve health, and provide healthy life behaviors to individuals. The individuals followed in AMATEM, which constitute the sample of our research, are at greater risk of sexually transmitted HIV by exhibiting risky sexual behavior. It is thought that TTM-based training integrated into substance use treatment in order to reduce the tendency towards uncontrolled sexual behaviors as a result of substance use disorder and the risk of infectious diseases as a result will create healthy behavioral change in individuals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to participate voluntarily in the study
• Age 18 years or older
• Under probation and receiving treatment at AMATEM
• Able to read and write (literate)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of visual, hearing, or communication disorders
• Refusing to participate voluntarily in the study

Since the training will be given to the experimental group in our study, it was not possible to provide double-blind researcher blindness in terms of blinding and masking. However, masking was applied wherever possible from the delivery of evaluations to the scoring and the initial assignment of individuals. The researcher who conducted the survey, made the random assignment, the researcher who made the statistical evaluation and the AMATEM personnel who drew the envelopes were blinded to the study. At the same time, the coded answer sheets will only be entered into the analysis program after the study is completed. Single-blind randomization will be provided by ensuring that the person who does the analysis does not know which individual the survey forms belong to. It was planned in a way that the experimental group would not meet the control group before and after the training program. In this way, cross-contamination of the experimental and control groups was prevented.