Knowledge of health education and the associated factors among hemodialysis patients at Muhimbili national hospital, Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Education for patients with chronic kidney disease leads to improvements in their health and adherence to treatment. Despite its importance, there is limited information on the effectiveness of patient education in hemodialysis care. Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge acquired through health education and its associated factors among hemodialysis patients at Muhimbili National Hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study among hemodialysis patients at Muhimbili National Hospital. The trained research assistants collected data using interviewer-administered questionnaires from May 3rd to May 26th, 2023. Analysis was performed using Stata version 15.0. Descriptive statistics summarized numerical variables using mean and standard deviation, while categorical data were presented as frequency and percentage. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to determine factors associated with level of knowledge. Results: Among the 246 participants, the majority (152, 61.8%) were male, with a mean age of 50 years (SD 13.5). The overall level of knowledge on various aspects of health education in hemodialysis was low (105, 42.7%). Noteworthy individual factors linked to knowledge included the presence of other chronic diseases (AOR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.24-1.48), frequent adherence to hemodialysis education (AOR = 5.29, 95% CI = 2.84-9.86), and incomplete coverage of health education modules (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.16-3.59, p = 0.013). Organizational factors influencing knowledge encompassed patient-centered care (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.05-3.40, p = 0.034), regular doctor communication about hemolysis management (AOR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.37-4.46, p = 0.003), and patients facing high treatment costs (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.05-3.40, p = 0.034). vii Conclusion: The majority of hemodialysis patients had low knowledge of various aspects of health education. High knowledge was associated with patients’ adherence to hemodialysis education, the presence of other chronic diseases, regular doctor communication, and treatment costs. In order to improve knowledge acquisition and patient outcomes, these findings advocate for educational interventions that address both individual and organizational factors