Effect of an Educational Program Based on the Teach-Back Method on Adherence to Treatment Regimen in Dialysis Patients with End Stage Renal Disease Referred to Sina Hospital during 2015-2016

Non-adherence to treatment is known as a major problem in hemodialysis patients. Using appropriate educational methods, which with interpersonal communication try to meet the needs of the patient, may be helpful in this regard. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of using teach-back education on the treatment adherence of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).
This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 90 hemodialysis patients with ESRD referred to Sina Hospital in Tehran, during 2015-2016. The patients were divided into two equal groups. In the intervention group, in addition to routine training, the teach-back method education was performed in four areas of hemodialysis, medication, fluid intake and diet for 45 min. In the control group, training was only as a routine training. Treatment adherence was evaluated in 3 steps including pre-test, post-test (7 days after the intervention), and fallow-up (30 days after the intervention), using the ESRD adherence questionnaire (ESRD-AQ). Age, sex, educational level and duration of hemodialysis were identified in both groups.
The mean scores of treatment adherence in the intervention group in both post-test and follow-up were significantly higher than those of the control group (P=0.001), so that 28.8% and 22.1% of the changes related to treatment adherence were due to the intervention in the post-test and follow-up stages, respectively.
This study shows that the teach-back method education may lead to treatment adherence in four areas of hemodialysis, medication, fluid intake limitation and dietary restrictions. This education method is suitable in patients with low educational levels and different durations of hemodialysis.