A comparison between the care requirements and the patient education given to Contınuous Ambulatory Perıtoneal Dıalysıs (CAPD)) patients

This study was designed as definitive and analytical in order to compare the housecare requirements and patient education given to continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.The study sample comprised of 11 patients monitored in Peritoneal Dialysis Unit at Duzce University Faculty of Medicine Hospital. The study data were collected via a questionnaire form designed by the researcher in compliance with the recent literature and expert consultations. The questionnaire forms were completed via face to face interviews with the patients during house visits between April 5 ? May 8 2004. The periton dialysis form was completed by the researcher by observing the patient during periton dialysis.The evaluation of the study data was carried out with the Mann-Whitney U Test to compare two mean scores and the Kruskal Wallis Test to compare more than two mean scores in nonparametric tests as well as descriptive statistical methods such as numerical, percentage and standard mean tests. The Pearson Correlation Test was used in order to analyze the correlation between the knowledge score and periton dialysis scores.It was reported that 72.7% of the participants (n:8) were women and the mean age was 51.90 ± 17.24 years. 45.4% (n:5) of the participant patients were aged between 43-62 years old, 45.4% (n:5) graduated from primary school, and 81.8% of the participants (n:9) were married. It was further noted that 72.7% (n:8) of the patients had renal failure for less than 5 years and 27.3% (n:3) suffered from chronic renal failure for 5-10 years. 54.5% of the patients (n:6) took CAPD treatment for 2-3 years and 36.4% (n:4) for 3-4 years.The study results also illustrated that all CAPD outpatients in the study were individually given education by the nurses and most of the patients (81.8%) were given education after catheter implant. The patients participated in the study stated that the education was beneficial, yet the house visits weren?t followed through. The patients further noted that 32.4% of the patients were given education about hygiene, 26.5% received education about the procedures of periton dialysis, 23.5% of the participants were educated about infections, 8.8% were given education about general sanitation, and 8.8% received education about nutrition.In light of the results, it can be suggested that the mean score of knowledge was moderate (35.90±13.85) (16-64 points). The mean score of knowledge subscale for men and women was found to be approximate and moderate. It was also reported that the younger participants had higher mean scores of knowledge (44.00±8.00) and that the mean scores of knowledge for patients who graduated from secondary school or above were 52.33±11.50, which were found to increase with the educational status (p<0.05).The study results also demonstrated that the mean scores of periton dialysis were (47.09±3.35) (40-50 points) and male patients had higher mean scores (49.00±1.73). It was also pointed out that the younger patients (49.00±1.73) and those who were primary schools graduates (49.40±1.34) also had higher mean scores (p>0.05).For the patients who took CAPD treatment for 1-2 years, it was found that the mean score of periton dialysis was 49.50±0.70 and the mean score decreased with longer periods of treatment (p>0.05).There was a positive (parallel) moderate correlation between the mean scores of knowledge and the mean scores of periton dialysis, which, however, wasn?t considered as statistically meaningful (p>0.05).While the mean scores of periton dialysis were expected to increase with the knowledge scores, it was observed that most of the patients with lower scores of knowledge had lower scores of periton dialysis. It is suggested that the knowledge of patients about the treatment procedures and the patient care be assessed and the education sessions be repeated accordingly, which eventually result in higher scores of knowledge. Consequently, it is strongly believed that the treatment procedures can be improved with the increasing knowledge scores of the patients.Key Words: Home Care, Home Visit, Patient Education, Nurse, Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis.