Education of patients in dialysis programme

Kidney diseases belong among the most serious ones. It is difficult for a person suffering from this kind of disease to accept his/her state of health and to learn to live with it. Education in nephrology is indispensable and it is an important means to improve the quality of life of a dialyzed patient. The education is provided by the physician and the nurse. The nephrological nurse informs the patient and his family, educates and trains him/her in order to achieve optimal rehabilitation and the patient's independence. This bachelor thesis deals with education of clients in dialysis programme. The research survey was a quantitative one, to collect data anonymous questionnaires were applied questioning nurses and patients at nephrology departments. The research was carried out in chosen hospitals of the South Bohemian Region, in Písek, Tábor and Prachatice. The clients were distributed 110 questionnaires in total, 65 (100%) of which were used for the research. Nurses of the hemodialysis centers were offered 27 questionnaires, of which 15 (100%) were applied. This paper has set two goals, the first of which was to determine whether nurses provide education of dialyzed patients applying written material. The second goal aimed at finding out whether dialyzed patients are satisfied with the level of care provided by the education. These goals have been fulfilled. Three hypotheses were set. The first hypothesis presumed that nurses at hemodialysis center carry out the education solely by means of written materials. This hypothesis was not confirmed, for nurses apply also other forms of education. The second hypothesis presumed that dialyzed patients are positive about the written materials at the dialysis center. This hypothesis was confirmed. More than one half of patients, 35 out of 65, said they were provided information by means of written material and they considered this method comprehensible. The third hypothesis presumed that within education at the hemodialysis center the patients' questions were always answered. This hypothesis was also confirmed. The research has shown that nurses at hemodialysis centers educate patients by means of written material and they also discuss the issue with patients. Dialyzed patients are satisfied with the level of education and they consider the information received comprehensible and they are given enough time for questions and have a sufficient feedback. By means of this education the patients get new knowledge, new skills and a different view on the hierarchy of values. The right understanding and attitude to his/her state and treatment are necessary. Respecting the process of treatment, respecting the diet the patient may slow down the disease and delay the artificial replacement of lost kidney function. It is therefore very important to keep education of dialyzed patients in mind