“Exercise during hemodialysis and health promoting behaviors: a clinical trial”

BACKGROUND: Health promoting behaviors are among the determinants of health. Hemodialysis causes significant changes in the lives of patients and affects their health promoting behaviors. Accordingly, this study aimed at investigating the effect of exercise during hemodialysis on health promotion behaviors in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: This study was a two-stage (before and after) clinical trial. The sample of the study consisted of 60 hemodialysis patients in two hospitals in Isfahan who were selected randomly and divided into two groups of control and intervention using random allocation method. A 8-week exercise program by stationary bicycles (Mini-bike) was designed for the intervention group, while the control group underwent a 10-min limbering exercise for 8 weeks. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) questionnaire before and after the intervention and were analyzed using SPSS21 software. RESULTS: Based on the independent t-test results, no significant difference was observed between the mean score of health promoting behaviors and its areas before the intervention (P > 0.05). However, the results of this test showed that the mean score of health promoting behaviors and its areas, except for the areas of responsibility (P = 0.052) and spirituality (P = 0.211), was significantly different between the two groups after the intervention (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that exercise with stationary bicycle during hemodialysis could promote health promoting behaviors. Thus, this exercise is recommended to be considered as part of the therapeutic protocol of these patients in hemodialysis departments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial was found to be in accordance to the ethical principles and the national norms and standards for conducting medical research in Iran. IRCT registration number: IRCT20150116020675N3. Registration date: 2019-01-18, 1397/10/28 Approval ID: IR.MUI.RESEARCH.REC.1397.014 Approval Date: 2018-07-01 Evaluated by: Vice-Chancellor in Research Affairs -Medical University of Isfahan