Effects of Patient Education on the Use of Herbal and Nutritional Supplements in Patients with Renal Impairment

Abstract

Objective: To determine the use rate of herbs and dietary supplements and evaluate the effects of health education on using of herbs and dietary supplements with potential effects on renal function in patients with renal impairment. Methods: This one-group pretest-posttest experimental study was conducted at the outpatient department in Suddhavej hospital, Faculty of medicine, Mahasarakham University between January and February 2016. Patients were provided an in-person health education session on herbs and dietary supplements with flip charts, leaflets, and pocketbook. The education was also given in the next 5 days via telephone. Patients’ knowledge about the subject was measured before and after the education session and renal function was monitored before and 1 month, or next visit, after the session. Data of knowledge and the use behavior were collected using questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and McNemar chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results: Of the 38 patients participating, they were 62.45 years of age and 57.9% were women. Before education session (baseline), their knowledge’s score was 6.21 ± 3.09 and was increased to 14.42 ± 1.00 and 14.11 ± 1.20 points at the end of the session and the study, with statistical significance (P-value < 0.001, for both). The use rate of the products was 44.7% of the patients and drooped to 18.7% at the end of study (P-value = 0.0012). Renal function was slightly increased at the end of study with no statistical significance (P-value). Conclusion: This study showed that the patient education on the usage of herbs and dietary supplements which effect to renal function significantly decreased the use of herbs and dietary supplements and increased patients’ knowledge. Keywords: herb, nutritional supplements, patients with renal impairment, education