Background & Aim: Today, one of the leading causes of pathogenicity and mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis is their failure to follow the treatment plan. The present research was con- ducted to compare effects of patient-centered education with family-centered education on adher- ence with the treatment program.
Methods & Materials: This clinical trial was performed between May and October 2012 in hemo- dialysis ward of Imam Khomeini and Amir-Alam hospital in Tehran, Iran. Research samples were60 patients aged 18-65 years old, randomly assigned into two groups: Training the patients (30 pa-tients) and training the patients and one of close family member (30 people). Using a researcher made questionnaire, patients’ adherence (diet, pharmaceutical regimen, and physical activity) was examined by the self-reporting method in three stages (before intervention, 2 and 4 weeks after in- tervention). Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher tests using SPSS software version 16.
Results: Prior to intervention, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of adherence to diet program (P = 0.200, mean difference 25.8 ± 25.7), to pharmaceutical regimen (P = 0.600, mean difference 1.96 ± 0.61), and physical activity (P = 0.700 mean difference1.33 ± 0.66). After 2 weeks family-centered education group had significantly more adherence to the diet program (P = 0.001, mean difference 43.1 ± 11.1), pharmaceutical regimen (P = 0.040, mean difference 2.72 ± 0.5) and physical activity (P = 0.035, mean difference 2.41 ± 0.89), and total ad- herence score (P = 0.030) in comparison with patient-centered education group. After 4 weeks, just the adherence to pharmaceutical regimen showedn a significant difference between groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the family-centered education is more effective than patient-centered education on patients’ adherence to the therapeutic program particularly phar- maceutical regimen, which suggests, by having family-centered education in hemodialysis patients, the outcome could be improved.