Objective To explore the effect of PRECEDE nursing model in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods Eighty-six elderly patients with chronic hepatitis B in 302 military hospital from June 2015 to June 2016 were selected. The participants were divided into two groups according to the random number table. The intervention group received PRECEDE model nursing while the control group received routine nursing care. The therapeutic effect, compliance, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results The intervention group had significantly higher total effective rate compared with the control group (97.67% vs. 88.37%; χ2=6.604,P<0.05). The intervention group had better diet, exercise, compliance, smoking and drinking control, and regular review compared with the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the quality of life between two groups before the intervention (P>0.05). However, after the intervention, the body function, social function, psychological function, substance function and the total score of the quality of life were significantly higher in the intervention group compared with the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions PRECEDE model can significantly improve the liver function of elderly patients with chronic hepatitis B. It can promote patients' compliance and quality of life, which should be further developed in clinical practice.