A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Individualized Nutritional Education among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in GKNM Hospital, Coimbatore

A pre-experimental study was conducted to “Assess the Effectiveness of Individualized Nutritional Education among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in GKNM Hospital, Coimbatore”. Objectives: 1. To assess the nutritional status of patients undergoing hemodialysis. 2. To compare the pretest and post test knowledge scores regarding nutrition among patients undergoing hemodialysis. 3. To find the association between pretest knowledge scores of nutrition with selected demographic variables of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Conceptual framework: Modified Imogene King - Transaction Process Model was used for the study. Research design: Pre-experimental one group pretest posttest design was the research design used for the study. Setting: The study was conducted in the dialysis unit of GKNM Hospital, Coimbatore. Samples: Twenty samples that fulfilled the criteria were selected. Sampling techniques: Convenient sampling technique was used to select the samples. METHODS: During the first visit of data collection, patients were interviewed using the structured interview guide, assessed for their level of nutritional status using modified dialysis malnutrition score and level of knowledge on nutritional education using structured knowledge questionnaire. The individualized nutritional education was provided to patients undergoing hemodialysis during the second visit and the posttest was performed during the fourth visit. Study outcomes were calculated using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The study showed that, 1. All patients 20 (100%) were mild to moderately malnourished. 2. The mean pretest level of knowledge on nutrition among patients undergoing hemodialysis was 7.75 (SD= 8.26) and post test was 22.30 (SD= 21.76). The computed “t” value (15.50) is higher than the table value (2.86) at 0.01 level of significance with 19 degrees of freedom. Thus the study concluded that there was a significant difference between the mean pre test and post test level of knowledge on nutrition among patients undergoing hemodialysis. 3. There was an association between the pretest knowledge scores on nutrition and education. CONCLUSION: Thus the study concluded that, individualized nutritional education is a cost effective method to improve the knowledge on nutrition, lowers the risk of complications and thus improve the quality of life among patient undergoing hemodialysis