The effect of a training program on the self‐care efficacy of hemodialysis patients with mineral and bone disorders: A quasi‐experimental study

Background and Aims Patients who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and mineral and bone disorders (MBD) often do not know much about their diseases. A training program can help them improve their quality of life. This study aimed to assess the effect of a training program on the self‐care efficacy of the hemodialysis patients with MBDs in southeastern Iran. Method We conducted a quasi‐experimental study involving 49 patients with CKD‐MBD in southeastern Iran in 2021. The patients were randomly assigned to either the control or intervention group. The intervention group received 12 self‐care training sessions delivered through WhatsApp, whereas the control group received routine information. We administered CKD‐MBD knowledge and behavior questionnaires of the intervention, and measured laboratory parameters before and 1 month after the intervention. The data were analyzed by SPSS15 with descriptive and analytical statistics. Paired t test, independent t, analysis of covariance, and Mann–Whitney U tests were using for data analysis. Results The mean knowledge scores of the control group were 4.78 ± 1.78 and 6.22 ± 2.11 before and after the intervention, respectively (p = 0.200), whereas the mean knowledge scores of the intervention group were 6.08 ± 2.24 and 22.23 ± 4.55 before and after the intervention, respectively (p = 0.001). The mean behavior scores of the control and intervention groups were 75.61 ± 7.13 and 73.85 ± 7.49 before the intervention, respectively (p = 0.070), but they received the mean scores of 78.87 ± 5.58 and 82.50 ± 5.35 after the intervention, respectively (p = 0.001). The result showed a significant increase in the mean knowledge and behavior scores after the intervention. The researchers found no significant difference in the mean scores of the laboratory parameters between them before and after the intervention (p = 0.090); therefore, the intervention could not affect the laboratory parameters. Conclusion To sum up, the study found that the training program improved the knowledge and behavior of hemodialysis patients with MBD. WhatsApp was a good and cheap way to teach them self‐care, and it helped them do it better. These results implied that this training program could help the patients have a better quality of life.