Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Access Control
Open Access
Embargo Period
4-23-2021
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Family Nurse Practioner
Year Degree Awarded
2021
Month Degree Awarded
May
Advisor
Kimberly Dion, PhD, RN, CNE, CARN
DNP Project Chair
Joanne Churak, PA-C
Abstract
Background: Maintaining low serum phosphorus (PO4) levels is recommended in patients receiving hemodialysis through a low phosphorus diet and binder medication compliance, however this remains a struggle for many patients. The literature shows that educational interventions focused on phosphate management can increase patients’ knowledge and improve patient outcomes.
Purpose: To implement an educational intervention focused on low phosphorus diet and adherence to binder regimen to increase patients’ knowledge base, receiving hemodialysis at an outpatient unit at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital.
Methods: An interactive educational intervention involving two 30-minute, one-to-one counseling sessions with educational materials including short videos and a take-home pamphlet were given to patients receiving hemodialysis at an outpatient unit in a VA hospital over three weeks. Demographics, pre/post surveys, and a satisfaction survey were collected.
Results: Following the intervention, all participants reported increased knowledge on adherence to a low phosphorus diet and phosphate binder prescription. A paired samples t-test showed a statistically significant increase in the test scores from pre to post results.
Conclusion: Findings from the quality improvement (QI) project show that a focused and interactive educational intervention about phosphorus diet and binder adherence can increase knowledge in patients receiving hemodialysis. One-to-one sessions with interactive videos, discussion, and pamphlets are successful means to engage the patient in learning new material.
Keywords: hemodialysis education, interventions, compliance, diet, phosphorus
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.