The Effect of Educational Program on Improving the Lifestyle of Hemodialysis Patients: Model of Planned Behavior

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate an educational program effect that is based on the model of planned behavior on improving the lifestyle of hemodialysis patients. A total of 112 hemodialysis patients who were referred to the hemodialysis wards of Ahvaz educational hospitals participated in this clinical trial. Randomly, patients were divided into test and control groups. One month after the completion of the educational sessions in the test group, using Chi-square, independent and even t-test, and Mann-Whitney tests, the questionnaires were re-completed by both groups and the data were was analyzed. Based on the results, although the two groups did not have any significant difference in lifestyle before the intervention, the lifestyle scores of the test group showed a significant increase compared to the control group after the educational intervention (p <0.0001). Also in addition, the scores of all structures of the theory of planned behavior, except for behavioral intension, showed a significant increase in the test group compared to the control group after the intervention (p <0.0001). Behavioral intention scores in the two groups revealed a significant difference before and after the intervention. An educational program designed based on a model of planned behavior can be used as an effective method to improve all aspects of lifestyle in hemodialysis patients. Designing and implementing educational programs based on the model of planned behavior is useful in increasing the participation of nurses to provide better educations to patients.