Effect of Nutritional Guidance on Parents' Awareness and Nutritional Status of Children Undergoing Hemodialysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University

2 Professor, Pediatric Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Menoufia University.

3 BSC. of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Nursing - Menoufia University

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease is a progressive deterioration of kidney functions
which associated with metabolism, fluids and electrolytes disturbances. In addition,
impairment of growth and development. Purpose: it was to examine the effect of nutritional
guidance on parents’ awareness and nutritional status of children undergoing hemodialysis.
A Quasi-experimental design was utilized. Setting: Pediatric Hemodialysis Unit, EL
Menoufia University Hospital in Shebein El-kom city. Sample: purposive sample of 30
children and their parents were included in the study. Instruments for data collection:three
instruments were used, instrument one; A structured interview questionnaire developed by
the investigators to collect data regarding the study consists of 2 parts: 1st part: socio
demographic data of children, 2nd part: Parents' knowledge toward chronic kidney disease;
instrument two was anthropometric measures and 24 hours dietary recall; instrument three
was a structured interview questionnaire to assess parents awareness about nutritional
requirements of their children. The results of this study showed that, more than half of
children were under weight, around two thirds of children achieved normal weight on follow
up test. The study concluded that implementation of nutritional guidance improved parents’
awareness about adequate nutrition for their children and improved nutritional status of
children undergoing hemodialysis on post and follow up tests than on pretest. Therefore, it
was recommended that regular nutritional assessment of children should be maintained
throughout their hemodialysis period and nurses should provide nutritional education for
their mothers. 

Keywords