The effect of an educational program on quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis in western Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES: To assess health-related quality of life (QOL) among hemodialysis (HD) patients attending HD units in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and to evaluate the effect of an educational program on health-related QOL. METHOD: One hundred HD patients were recruited and followed from 4 different dialysis units in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between January 2018 and May 2018. The patients were divided into an intervention group (n=50) receiving educational program and control group (n=50). All sociodemographic and laboratory variables were recorded. The QOL short form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire has been used and the score calculated to all patients enrolled in the study before and after educational program. The participants received the educational program in individualized sessions. RESULTS: The mean ± standard deviation in the intervention group were significantly greater than in controls after the educational program in most dimensions of QOL, including role-physical (35.5 ± 24.7 versus 24.5 ± 23.9, p<0.02), role-emotional (58.6 ± 40.1 versus 44.6+43.4, p<0.001) and general health (76.6 ± 16 versus 62.9 ± 19.4, p<0.001). This reflects high impact of patient counseling in the QOL of HD patients. CONCLUSION: The scores of health-related quality of life for HD patients were low. The educational program had significant positive impact on all health-related quality of life parameters.