The impact of education on knowledge, adherence and quality of life among patients on haemodialysis

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of an educational intervention on the level of knowledge, quality of life (QoL) and adherence to the treatment regimen among haemodialysis (HD) patients as well as to describe the association between these variables. Methods: In this quasi-experimental interventional study, 50 HD patients at a HD centre in Western Attica were randomly assigned into intervention (N = 25, received education and a booklet) and control (N = 25, received only the booklet) groups. Knowledge, adherence and quality of life were measured pre- and post-intervention using the Kidney Disease Questionnaire, the GR-Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire-HD and Missoula Vitas Quality of Life Index—15, respectively. The statistical analysis of the data was performed with the help of the Statistical Program SPSS version 19.0. The statistical significance level was set up at 0.05. Results: The increase of knowledge, adherence and QoL levels in the intervention group was significantly higher compared to the control group. There was no significant correlation between knowledge and adherence scores after the intervention. However, a significant positive correlation was found between the change in the overall QoL and the changes in the total adherence score as well as the adherence to the fluids and dietary behaviour. Conclusions: An educational intervention can improve knowledge, adherence and QoL among HD patients. The increase of knowledge level is not associated with increased adherence. However, the increase of adherence may improve some dimensions of QoL.