A Nurse-Led Nutritional Education Intervention Reduces Serum Potassium in Moroccan Hemodialysis Patients Lacking Dietitian Support.
A Nurse-Led Nutritional Education Intervention Reduces Serum Potassium in Moroccan Hemodialysis Patients Lacking Dietitian Support.
Why was this study done? Many dialysis centers in Morocco lack dietitians to provide proper, individualized dietary support to patients. High potassium levels (hyperkalemia) are a major risk factor for heart problems in dialysis patients. This study tested whether a simple nutritional education program, led by a nurse, could help patients better manage their diet and safely reduce their serum potassium levels.
Who participated? Thirty (30) adult patients with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis participated in the study. They were recruited from three public hemodialysis centers in Morocco that did not have permanent dietitians.
What did participants do? The study was conducted from February to June 2025. Participants received an educational intervention led by a nurse. The sessions covered potassium content in food, fluid intake, thirst management, and physical activity.
What did the study find (Results)? The educational program resulted in a statistically significant reduction in patients' serum potassium levels. The percentage of patients within the ideal potassium range (4 to 5 mmol/L) increased from 36.7% at the start to 46.7% at the end. This demonstrates that a nurse-led program is a practical and beneficial approach to help lower cardiovascular risk in resource-scarce settings.
The study found no significant changes in Quality of Life (QoL) or interdialytic weight gain (IDWG).
This is a single-group, pre-post interventional study designed to evaluate the impact of a nurse-led nutritional education program on the management of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis in a resource-limited setting in Morocco. The study enrolled 30 adult patients.
The intervention was conducted over five months (February to June 2025). The program was delivered by a nurse and included face-to-face sessions as well as remote support (WhatsApp). The educational content focused on three main areas:
Dietary management to reduce hyperkalemia (potassium content in food). Fluid restriction and thirst management. Salt restriction and low-impact physical activity. The primary outcome measure was the change in serum potassium levels (Kalemia) from baseline (T0) to post-intervention (T1). Secondary outcomes included changes in interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) and Quality of Life (QoL).
The results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in patients' serum potassium levels, supporting the practical benefits of the nurse-led program.
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