Objective      To evaluate the effect of the family visit based on the empowerment theory on the quality of life and depression in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).       Methods      Eighty-two cases of HIV/AIDS receiving antiretroviral treatment were selected during June to September of 2013 in the third people’s hos

pital of Hengyang city. and randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group (n=41) with a random number table method. The control group was assigned to routine health education in the clinics

while the intervention group received the family visit activities based on the theory of the empowerment plus routine health educations including self-management of complications

self-management of pressure and self-management of goal. The quality of life and depression in the patients with HIV/AIDS before and after the intervention were compared.       Results       After intervention

the center for epidemiologic studies depression (CESD) scores of the intervention group descended to 17.13±6.33 from 28.51±11.8

while the quality of life scores rose to 776.60±75.20 from 605.66±106.35. The CESD scores of the control group descended to 21.85±7.62 from 25.38±10.70

while the quality of life scores rose to 730.60±78.51 from 656.46±132.59. The quality of life and depression in both the control group and the intervention group were significantly changed after intervention (F

1

=24.62

P

1

0.01; F

2

=16.30

P

2

0.01)

but the intervention group was improved more than the control group (t

1

=5.10

P

1

0.01;t

2

=4.04

P

2

0.01).       Conclusion       Family visit based on the theory of empowerment has obvious effects on improving the quality of life and reducing the depression level in the patients with HIV/AIDS.