The effect of a nutrition education program on nutritional status and dietary intake among the end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis at Phayao Hospital, Thailand

Abstract

High range of patients who have the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and have been through maintenance hemodialysis (HD) treatment are in the situation of malnutrition. This study aimed to examine the effects of nutrition education on the nutritional status, and dietary intake characteristic of HD patients at Phayao Hospital. The quasi-experimental study was used as the research design (n=60). The nutrition educational program is divided into 16 sessions in the total duration of 4 months. The status of nutrition will be measured on body mass index (BMI) and nutrition triage (NT) while the laboratory markers will be evaluated before and after the program.

The mean participant age was 56.62 with standard deviation (SD) of 3.95 years, 52% were females. Mean BMI was 20.29 with SD of 0.85 kg/m2 (normal). 83% have their dry body weight decreased significantly at the end of the study (p<0.01) and were classified as mild malnutrition risk. No statistically significance change in BMI and laboratory markers while mean normalized protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (nPNA) was increased to 0.99 g/kg/day from 0.88 g/kg/day. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in dairy energy, protein, carbohydrate, and fat intake comparing between the baseline and the end of the study (p<0.01).

The results of this study suggest that a nutrition education program has improved the nutrition status, dietary intake, and biochemical markers in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, well-designed, frequent, and multifaceted educational programs may enhance knowledge, self-management, and clinical outcomes of the patients.