The Effects of Nutrition Education on the Handgrip Strength and Nutrition Status of Elderly Patients on Hemodialysis

Abstract

Nutrition education provided to patients on hemodialysis (HD) is important for improving nutritional status. This study investigated the effects of nutrition education on handgrip strength (HGS) of patients on HD. The study was a prospective self-controlled analysis of 29 patients on HD. The patients' measurements, HGS, and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scores were examined. The HGS values and MNA scores measured in the first and third months after nutrition education were higher than those measured before nutrition education. The study showed that effective nutrition education may play an important role in improving HGS values of elderly patients on HD.