EFFECTS OF MULTIMEDIA BASED EDUCATION AND TRADITIONAL METHOD ON PATIENTS HEMODIALYSIS KNOWLEDGE AND TREATMENT ADHERENCE

Patients on hemodialysis need effective self-care education. Computer-based patient education is an effective educational method. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of multimedia based education، and traditional method on patients’ hemodialysis knowledge and treatment adherence.

In this quasi- experimental study، all of the patients referred to four hemodialysis centers in Tabriz City were divided randomly into intervention and control groups. A knowledge (Cronbach’s alpha = 0/78) and treatment adherence questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha = 0/84) were completed as a pretest and repeated three months after the educational program. The intervention group interfaced and navigated their way through the Hemodialysis and Essentials Care application with a laptop during their hemodialysis time. The control group received the same content in the traditional way (face to face and pamphlet).

Findings showed that post-education knowledge mean scores had changed substantially (p< 0/05) in both the intervention (n= 32) and control groups (n= 30)، however، treatment adherence mean scores were statistically significant only in the intervention group (p< 0/05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in pre- and post-education knowledge and treatment adherence mean scores (p>0/05).

The Hemodialysis and Essentials Care application based education improved patients’ knowledge and treatment adherence compared to the traditional method. This application could be used to facilitate the patient education process and to improve its quality.