Impact of Patient Education on Interdialytic Weight Gain and Blood Pressure in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Objectives: To assess the impact of patient education on Interdialytic Weight Gain (IDWG) and Blood Pressure (DBP) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Materials and Methods: A Quasi experimental Pre and Post study design was conducted in an outpatient HD unit among 50 patients who were undergoing maintenance HD. The patients were educated by using validated educational material. The data on IDWG, Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) were collected at baseline, 4th week, 10th week and 16th week. The paired sample t-test was applied to assess the mean change in difference from baseline to 16th week with p value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean SBP was significantly reduced from baseline (151.60 ± 19.99 mmHg) to 16th week (144 ± 15.70 mmHg) with p value 0.021 in pre HD patients and also in post HD patients from baseline (157 ± 21.65 mmHg) to 16th week (144.62 ± 16.03 mmHg) with p value 0.001. The mean Pre and Post IDWG was significantly reduced after the patient education from baseline (3.44 ± 1.36 kg) to the end of the study i.e. 16th week (2.76 ± 0.90 kg) with p value 0.001 in the HD session patients. Conclusion: The small group education in patients undergoing HD leads to decrease in IDWG, SBP in Pre and Post-HD sessions patients and DBP in Post-HD session patients significantly from baseline to post education but DBP in Post- HD patients were not reduced significantly.