Examining the effect of continuous care model on adherence to dietary regimen among patients receiving hemodialysis

Adherence to dietary regimens is essential to the success of hemodialysis whose absence is associated with significant health problems and complications for patients receiving hemodialysis. Besides educations، hemodialysis patients need a continuous care plan that improves their adherence knowledge، practice، and attitude. This study aimed at examining the effect of Continuous Care Model on hemodialysis patients’ dietary adherence. This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 98 patients who received hemodialysis in Baqiyatallah and Chamran hospitals، Tehran، Iran، in 2013. Subjects were recruited by using the purposive sampling technique and were randomly allocated to either the treatment or the control groups. Written and verbal educational materials about hemodialysis and dietary adherence were provided to patients in the treatment group. Then، the four-step continuous care plan was implemented. The steps included orientation، sensitization، control، and evaluation. Study participants were invited to fill the Dietary Adherence Questionnaire at four time points including before the intervention (T1) as well as one، two، and three months afterward (T2–T4). The Chi-square and the repeated measures analysis of variance test were performed by using the SPSS v. 18. 0. Most participants had poor dietary adherence. The Continuous Care Model significantly improved their dietary adherence scores—from 148. 95±6. 04 (T1) to 156. 25±4. 85 (T2)، 177. 08±3. 63 (T3)، and 184. 37±3. 38 (T4). There was a significant relationship between Continuous Care Model and dietary adherence (P value = 0. 0001). Educations and counseling services that are provided through the Continuous Care Model can improve hemodialysis patients’ dietary adherence. Using this model for enhancing hemodialysis patients’ dietary adherence and preventing non-adherence-related complications is recommended.