Effects of a Health Education Program Utilizing Self-Management and Family Support on Dietary Behaviors and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients with Stage 4–5 Chronic Kidney Disease at Phon Phisai Hospital

Abstract

          Objective: To compare knowledge, dietary behaviors, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before and after participation in a health education program integrating self-management and family support among patients with stage 4–5 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

          Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 62 patients with stage 4–5 CKD who received care at Phon Phisai Hospital. The intervention comprised the health education program, accompanied by food diaries and nutritional media. Data collection instruments included a demographic questionnaire, a knowledge assessment, and a dietary behavior assessment(Cronbach's alpha = 0.73). Data were collected at baseline and at 12 weeks post-intervention and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired t-test.

          Results: The majority of participants were older adults (83.9%), with a monthly income not exceeding 3,000 baht(62.9%). Following the intervention, mean scores for CKD knowledge increased significantly from 4.55 to 6.16, and overall dietary behaviors aimed at delaying renal decline improved significantly from 1.52 to 2.53 (p < 0.05), with improvements observed across all behavioral sub-dimensions. Furthermore, mean eGFR increased significantlyfrom 18.88 to 20.14 mL/min/1.73 m² (p < 0.05).

          Conclusion: A health education program that emphasizes self-management and family involvement can effectively enhances knowledge, dietary behaviors, and clinical outcomes, thereby delaying kidney function decline in patients with advanced-stage CKD, even within resource-limited contexts.