Results of using an application to provide knowledge about food consumption in patients with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis in Phrachomklao Hospital, Phetchaburi Province

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design to compare nutritional knowledge, dietary behaviors, and interdialytic weight gain before and after implementing a dietary educational mobile application among twenty-five patients undergoing hemodialysis two or three times weekly for at least three months. The participants were selected through simple random sampling. Data collection instruments included demographic data forms, weight records, a knowledge questionnaire (Kuder-Richardson 20 reliability coefficient = .60), and a dietary behavior questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient = .70). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

After the intervention, the participants showed significantly higher mean scores in both nutritional knowledge (t=7.26, p<0.001) and dietary behaviors (t=4.19, p<0.001) compared to the pretest scores. The median interdialytic weight gain significantly decreased (z=3.87, p<.001). The mean satisfaction score for the mobile application was high level ( =2.89, SD=0.17).

The findings suggest that nutritional education systems for hemodialysis patients should be developed through mobile applications incorporating multimedia content for easy learning and engagement, such as images and short video. Additionally, implementing cooking activities with patients and their families can create sustainable learning experiences applicable to daily life.