The effect of a hemodialysis patient education program on fluid control and dietary compliance

Abstract Introduction: Some hemodialysis patients may experience problems in completing activities of daily living and adhering to diet and fluid restrictions due to a decrease in self‐care power and a loss of competence. Methods: The study was conducted with 78 people assigned to the intervention (N = 38) and control groups (N = 40). Data were collected using the sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, dialysis diet and fluid nonadherence questionnaire (DDFQ), and fluid control in hemodialysis patients scale (FCHPS). The participants in the intervention group were given the “Nutrition Education Booklet for Dialysis Patients”. The participants in the intervention group were trained through four education sessions across 4 months, and the measurement tools were administered to them. The participants in the control group were interviewed twice, once at the onset of the study and once 2 months later and the measurement tools were administered to them. Findings: In the intervention group, a decrease was observed in the pre‐ and postdialysis interdialytic weight gain, ultrafiltration (UF) volume, and blood pressure values of the patients after the training. There was a statistically significant decrease in the mean scores for the frequency and degree of nonadherence to diet restriction, and for the frequency and degree of nonadherence to fluid restriction in the participants in the intervention group compared to the participants in the control group ( P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant increase in the mean scores obtained from the FCHPS and its subscales by the participants in the intervention group compared to the participants in the control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: The training given to the hemodialysis patients positively contributed to their adherence to diet and fluid restrictions. The patients' adherence to diet and fluid restriction increased.