title: Patients' adherence to aspects of haemodialysis regimens in tropical north Queensland, Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with end-stage kidney disease often have difficulty in adhering to aspects of their haemodialysis regimens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to quantify the number of patients who attended 100% of their scheduled haemodialysis sessions, and the number of patients who gained no more than one kilogram per day between dialysis sessions, over a three-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart audit
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing haemodialysis at an in-hospital centre in tropical Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A renal nurse audited the 72 charts pertaining to a 12-week period in 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients attended 90.1% of all scheduled dialysis sessions. Forty-one patients attended all sessions, with the remaining 31 missing at least one scheduled session. One patient missed 16 scheduled sessions. The following were statistically less likely to attend all their scheduled sessions: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients; patients on a three times per week dialysis schedule; patients who had relocated from rural or regional towns and younger patients. The average daily weight gain ranged from 0.414 kg to 1.017 kg (mean = 0.885 kg). Younger patients were statistically less likely to adhere to fluid restrictions; patients without diabetes were more likely to adhere to the fluid allowances.
  Renal services need to assist patients to adhere to their regimens. Initially, this service will examine strategies to maximise the likelihood of patients attending all of their dialysis sessions. Such an outcome will help to delay deterioration in the patients' health status, while minimising additional strain on the health service.
authors.affiliation: Townsville Hospital and Health Service; and Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nurse Consultant, Townsville Renal Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hartig
authors.affiliation: Consultant Nephrologist, Townsville Renal Service, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Student Nurse, Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Valli
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manickam
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000208:ethnology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044382:Population Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011793:Queensland; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014329:Tropical Climate; D015430:Weight Gain; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
keywords: Adherence; Chart audit; Haemodialysis; Nursing