Dietary beliefs and food enjoyment among patient undergoing hemodialysis: Correlational study

Abstract

Background: Diet plays a crucial role in the management of hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients need to adhere to a specific dietary regimen to maintain their overall health and prevent complications related to kidney failure. Aim: to assess of food enjoyment among hemodialysis patients, to assess of dietary beliefs among hemodialysis patients and to find out an association between food enjoyment and dietary beliefs among hemodialysis patients. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was carried out at the dialysis center at Al-Sadder Medical City in Al-Najaf City/Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Health Directorate. Non-probability (purposive) samples of thirty-eight (38) patients with kidney failure who are admitted to the dialysis care ward are involved in the study. The study began from October 21st, 2022, to May 10th, 2023. Data were collected through a structured interview technique using a questionnaire that was adopted and developed and involved of two parts: the first part concerned socio-demographic characteristics, and the second part concerned dietary beliefs which include (26) items and food enjoyments which include (10) items. The validity of the study instrument was conducted by a panel of professionals with more than 10 years of experience in the nursing field. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results showed that most patients passed the assessment regarding dietary beliefs and food enjoyment with mean of score (1.69), (2.28). Conclusion: A study concluded that a majority of patients are passing in related to the both dietary belief and food enjoyment. The study also showed that male is the predominant gender among the sample.