Evaluation the effect of visual education related to nutrition on comfort of patients receiving hemodialysis therapy

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of visual education related to nutrition on comfort of patients receiving hemodialysis therapy. Matherial and Method: In this randomized controlled study conducted in two dialysis centers with 90 (intervention group: 45 patients; control group: 45 patients) chronic hemodialysis patients. Patient introduction form, Hemodialysis Comfort Scale-Version II (HDCS-II), Hemodialysis Patient Fluid Control Scale (HPFCS), Scale for Dietary Knowledge in Hemodialysis Patients (SDKHP) and Scale for Dietary Behaviors in Hemodialysis Patients (SDBHP) were used. In the intervention group, three interviews were conducted: pre-test, fifteen days later and three months later, post-test. After the data collection phase, visual training for nutrition was applied to the intervention group and after 15 days, reinforcement education was given through the training booklet. In the control group, two interviews were conducted for pre-test and post-test and no intervention was performed. Results: In the third mont after visual and reinforcement training, HDCS-II, HPFCS, SDKHP and SDBHP scores of the intervention group were higher than the control group. In the intervention group, there was a statistically significant increase in HDCS-Version II, HPFCS, SDKHP and SDBHP scores compared to the pre-test both on the fifteenth day and third months. In the intervention group; In the last test, there was a statistically significant decrease in interdialytic weight and ultrafiltration compared to the pre-test. Conclusion: In the third month, it was found that in intervention group, HDCS-II and subdimension scores of it were higher than the control group. Visual education was found to has a positive effect on the comfort status of hemodialysis patients.