title: A randomized controlled trial of an educational intervention to improve phosphate levels in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of a dietetic educational intervention on phosphate and calcium levels of hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parallel-group randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Teaching hospital hemodialysis unit in London, England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six stable adult hemodialysis patients with hyperphosphatemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  An educational intervention and one-to-one teaching session given by a renal dietitian, attempting to improve patients' knowledge of phosphate management and their compliance with diet and medication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients' serum phosphate, calcium, and calcium x phosphate products in the 3 months after the intervention, compared with those before the intervention. Results were also compared with a control group that had not undergone the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the intervention group, serum phosphate was significantly reduced after the education session, as compared with the results previously. In the control group, there was no significant change in serum phosphate level. The improved results were sustained over a period of 3 months. Serum calcium increased in the intervention group, but this result was not significant. There was an improvement in the calcium-phosphate product in the intervention group, but again this was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietetic educational intervention can favorably alter patients' serum phosphate levels, with potential impact on morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Middlesex Hospital, London, England, UK. ione.ashurst@uclh.org
authors.forename: Ione de Brito
authors.initials: Ide B
authors.lastname: Ashurst
authors.forename: Hamish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dobbie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004045:Dietary Services; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013664:Teaching Materials; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium