The Effect of Nurse-Led Telephone Patient Education and Counseling on Disease Management, Quality of Life, and Self-Care Behaviors in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND

Hemodialysis can lead to complications that negatively impact patients' quality of life. Managing hemodialysis effectively requires patient adherence to complex regimens.

AIM: This randomized controlled experimental study aimed to assess the impact of nurse-led telephone-based patient education and counseling on disease management, quality of life, and self-care behaviors in hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

Conducted between September 2022 and June 2023 at State Hospital's Hemodialysis Unit, the study included an intervention and a control group. Data were collected using tools such as the Scale for Dietary Knowledge in Hemodialysis Patients (SDKHP), Attitude Scale for the Dietary Therapy of Hemodialysis Patients (ASDTHP), Dialysis Symptom Index (DSI), Fluid Control in Hemodialysis Patients Scale (FCHPS), the Scale for the Assessment of Self-Care Behaviors with Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF), and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 (KDQOL-36).

RESULTS

Pre- and posttest comparisons showed significant improvements in the intervention group's mean scores for SDKHP, ASDTHP, and FCHPS, with the control group experiencing declines. DSI scores indicated reduced symptoms in the intervention group and an increase in the control group. The AVF Self-Care Scale results demonstrated increased self-care behaviors in the intervention group, while a decrease was observed in the control group. KDQOL-36 subscales, including physical and mental functioning, disease burden, and symptom management, also improved in the intervention group, while scores declined in the control group. These findings confirm the effectiveness of telephone-based patient education and counseling on multiple outcome measures.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Nurse-led, telephone-based patient education and counseling improved dietary adherence and disease management. Telephone-based patient interventions enhanced patients' self-care skills regarding AVF maintenance. Quality of life improved across multiple dimensions in the intervention group. Telephone counseling ensured continued monitoring and individual support, even after discharge. Nurses should integrate telephone-based counseling into routine care, especially for chronic disease management.