The end-stage renal disease characterized by complex clinical features, may result from glomerulonephritis or other systemic illness such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension as secondary complications. To treat ESRD, hemodialysis, pharmacotherapy and dietary therapy should be used in conjunction. However, often pharmacotherapy result in noncompliance due to multiple number of prescriptions prescribed.
From August 1 thru 15, 1996. a survey was conducted at St. mary´s hospital to thirty patients in hemodialysis room to decrease non-compliance through patient education. All patients had one or more concurrent disease status. The length of hemodialysis was as follows: less than 1 year, 33%; between 1-2 years, 13%; between 2-3 years, 17%; and greater than 5 years, 20%, Seven percent of patients expected full recovery, 17% considered medication treatment prevented worsening of the symptoms only and 20% considered drug therapy to be ineffective. The list of common side effects resulting from pharmacotherapy includes constipation(50%), GI side effects(33%), drowsiness(13%), dry cough(10%), pruritis(7%), dizziness(7%), vomiting(7%) and confusion(3%).
The findings suggest the need for patient education regarding their disease status and medications. The plan at our institution is to provide patient education with the cooperation from nephrology department to increase patient compliance and enhance patient care. The goal is to increase awareness of patient education among other health care providers and to rectify existing problems such as consultation fee.
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