Patient Knowledge, Adherence to the Therapeutic Regimen, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of patients' knowledge on adherence to the hemodialysis regimen and Quality of Life (QoL) of patients undergoing hemodialysis as well as the effect of adherence on QoL. Also, the effect of demographic and clinical characteristics on the above three variables was studied. In this cross-sectional study conducted between March and May 2017, 321 patients on hemodialysis from six hemodialysis units completed the Kidney Disease Questionnaire, the GR-Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire and the Missoula Vitas Quality of Life Index-15 to measure the patient knowledge, the adherence to hemodialysis regimen, and the QoL, respectively. The statistical analysis was performed via the Statistical Program SPSS 19.0. The statistical significance level was set up at 0.05. The knowledge was independently associated with the overall QoL and its dimension-transcendence-with total adherence and its dimension-diet/fluid adherence. The total adherence was independently associated with overall QoL and its dimensions-symptoms and interpersonal. The educational level, the type of vascular access, and the daily number of pills were independently associated with the total adherence and the overall QoL. Patient knowledge may have an important effect on adherence and QoL. Adherence may have an important effect on QoL. Demographic and clinical characteristics play, also, a crucial role in the above variables. The findings can help nephrology nurses to quantify the extent of non-adherence in hemodialysis and poor quality of life.