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.
Materials & Methods: 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).
Results: 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).
Conclusion: 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