The effect of individualized education on learning needs of patients undergoing hemodialysis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Individualized patient education is one of the new approaches that have attracted much attention in recent years. In line with individualized care, individualized education is designed and implemented based on the learning needs and preferences of each patient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of individualized education on the learning needs of patients on hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: In this single-blinded randomized clinical trial, a total of 102 patients were randomly assigned to individualized education or control groups. Patients in the intervention group (n = 51) received individualized education based on their individualized learning needs and preferences. The control group (n = 51) received routine education with brochures. The patient's learning needs were evaluated by the Patient Learning Needs Scale (PLNS) in three-time points (before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and three months after the last session of individualized education). Data were analyzed using SPSS software (v.26). A P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The results showed that the mean scores of total PLNS were not significantly different between the two groups before the intervention (P = 0.77). However, the mean total score of PLNS and the mean scores of seven subscales in the intervention group were lower than the control group immediately and three months after the intervention (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Implementation of the individualized patient education program can lead to decreased learning needs of patients on HD. Therefore, hemodialysis nurses could use individualized patient education as an effective education to meet the patient's needs by considering their learning needs.

Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial, IRCT20221031056352N1, Registered on 16/2/2023.