DINING FOR DIALYSIS’ – INSPIRING PATIENT VOICE AND CONFIDENCE IN KIDNEY DIET KNOWLEDGE AND SELF-EFFICACY

Ms Kirsten WILLETT¹, Mrs Kate  O’BRIEN¹

¹Community Care Nutrition, Canberra Health Services, Belconnen, Australia

Biography:

Bio and photo  to come

Abstract:

Background:

The ‘Dining for Dialysis’ project was developed for three community-based haemodialysis (HD) centres after dietitians observed lower levels of self-efficacy to achieve dietary goals amongst patients, that impacted their health and wellbeing.

Aims:

Determine if co-design and implementation of a series of interventions to improve patients’ kidney diet knowledge and self-efficacy is feasible. Evaluate changes in patient nutrition-related measures over project duration.

Methods:

Pre-implementation patient file audits, patient surveys and key informant interviews were conducted to identify priority messages. This mixed method study approach was repeated following a two-year project roll out of key health messages. Staff completed reflective journal entries throughout the project to capture implementation learnings.

Results:

At baseline seventy-eight patients completed surveys, kidney diet knowledge scores averaged 71.3% with knowledge of potassium diet restrictions being the lowest. Patients’ mean self-efficacy score for chronic disease management was 7.27 (maximum 10) with lower scores for managing pain, fatigue and co-morbidities. Topic areas identified were: kidney nutrient messages; budget-friendly shopping; celebrations; and chronic disease and symptom management. Interventions delivered included: interactive displays; newsletters; quizzes; and dialysis staff in-services.

Preliminary evaluation results indicate good patient awareness. Staff turnover negatively impacted the project roll out. Dietetic student involvement was identified as a key enabler.

Conclusion:

The co-design and implementation of a variety of activities to address diet knowledge gaps and suboptimal levels of confidence in managing health amongst HD patients is feasible.  The final evaluation of patient’s diet knowledge, self-efficacy and nutrition-related measures is due for completion in March 2026.