Haemodialysis (HD) is a modern mode of treatment for patients with chronic renal failure. HD patients are able to achieve good quality of life through proper nutrition, regular HD and appropriate drug therapy. Malnutrition is one of the most important problems associated with mortality and morbidity in this patient group. Studies have shown that malnutrition in HD patients is on the decline throughout the world. However, currently, 12-40 % of HD patients suffers from this problem worldwide. For this purpose a study was conducted to define the problem so that steps could be taken to reduce the incidence of malnutrition in Baskent University HD unit. The study group included 450 patients who underwent HD 2 or 3 times weekly between January 1999 and December 1999. The assessment of the patients' nutritional status was based on the anthropometric measures including body mass index, mid arm circumference, skinfold thickness of triceps and biochemical results which were drawn monthly before and after dialysis. The training programs included information on the importance of nutrition, proper drug use and methods of catheter and fistula care were provided monthly to the patients and to their families and an effective continuous quality improvement program was developed to control malnutrition among HD patients. Before the interventions the incidence of malnutrition which is a very debilitating and common problem in the patient group was found to be 30% while this figure fell to 5% after one year period with multidiscipline-based training programs and an effective monitoring and evaluation system.
Learning Objectives: - The importance of an effective monitoring and evaluation - Teamwork - Multidiscipline-based training
Keywords: Nutrition, Quality Improvement
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.