Effectiveness of nurse-led clinical interventions on knowledge, physiological and psychological outcomes, and symptom burden among patients undergoing hemodialysis -Part 1 pilot study

Introduction and Aim: The most popular treatment for treating severe and irreversible renal failure is hemodialysis. Even under the greatest circumstances, getting used to kidney failure's consequences and the time spent on dialysis may be challenging. In addition to the ‘lost time’, the patient could feel less energetic.. This pilot research aims to assess the efficacy of video-assisted teaching on selective nurse-led clinical interventions to improve knowledge, physiological and psychological outcomes and reduce the symptom burden among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials and Methods: Forty hemodialysis patients were recruited and randomly allocated to intervention (n = 20) and control groups (n = 20) using an evaluative pre-test and post-test repeated measure study design with the control group. Patients in the intervention group received intervention in terms of Watching a video clip (40 minutes) - the video consist of disease condition, hemodialysis, dietary habits, fluid restriction, sleep hygiene, meditation, and yoga techniques, for two weeks after pre-test, later practice session, and group discussion along with Individualised teaching and counseling session, finally a regular weekly follow up at dialysis unit, while the control group received only routine care. Results: In the intervention group there was a gradual increase in knowledge, coping and QoL (quality of life), reduction in stress and symptom burden, and physiological outcomes remain the same without much change. In the control group, they did not change the knowledge, physiological and psychological outcomes, and symptom burden in most of the patients. Conclusion: For enhancing knowledge, physiological and psychological results, and symptom load, nurse-led clinical treatments are helpful, safe, essential, natural therapies that may be carried out under supervision both during hemodialysis and at home. Nurse-led clinical interventions integrated into routine care shall lead to improvements in patients’ life.