title: Impact of stepped verbal and written reinforcement of fluid balance advice within an outpatient haemodialysis unit: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present pilot study assesses a programme of verbal and written fluid balance advice within an out-patient haemodialysis unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one haemodialysis patients were followed over three separate 6-week periods. Each 6-week period assessed dietetic and nursing educational input using a stepped approach with interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) as a barometer of patient compliance. Weight gain was statistically examined using the non-parametric Friedman test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight per cent of the sample group demonstrated an overall improvement in mean weight gain; however, this was not statistically significant (P=0.504).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pilot study suggests that further studies with greater numbers and a control group would have a useful contribution to make in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral, Merseyside CH49 5PE, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McClelland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006437:Hemodialysis, Home / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*