Effects of physical activity by the teach-back educational method on the physical ability and quality of life in hemodialysis patients: a clinical trial

Abstract Objective To determine the effect of physical activity by using the teach-back educational method on hemodialysis patients’ quality of life (QOL) and physical ability. Methods This is a single-blind clinical trial study involving a control group. A total of 90 patients who admitted to the dialysis centers of Beheshti and Besat hospitals in Hamadan were selected using a convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 45) and control (n = 45) groups. Data were collected using a demographic information checklist, a kidney disease QOL questionnaire, and a 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD) checklist. The patients’ QOL questionnaire was completed, and the 6MWD was recorded before and at the end of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 12th weeks of the intervention. In the intervention group, the patients were taught to perform physical activities with Pilates stretches in different resistances using the teach-back educational method during dialysis sessions for 12 weeks. Data were analyzed by using the independent t-test and chi-square test using SPSS-22 software. Results Before the intervention, no differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in terms of demographic characteristics, QOL, and physical ability (P > 0.05). The physical ability and QOL levels of patients exercising in the test group were higher than those in the control group after the intervention (P < 0.05). Based on the results, the 2 groups significantly differed with regard to the scores of various dimensions of QOL and physical ability after the intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusions Physical activity by using the teach-back method can effectively increase physical ability and improve QOL of hemodialysis patients. Therefore, the recommendations and inclusion of exercise in the dialysis care plan can effectively promote patients’ health.