What Can We Change in the Life of Hemodialysis Patients? The Results of a Project

OBJECTIVE: To share the results of the project funded by the European Union, entitled “providing poor hemodialysis patients with transportation, food service and subsistence” within the scope of the Eastern Anatolia Development Project conducted at the Hemodialysis Unit of Van Highly Specialized Training and Research Hospital. MATERIAL and METHODS: For eleven months, 66 patients were regularly transported to the hemodialysis unit and were given a meal. The anthropometric measurements, quality of life, anxiety, depression and hopelessness scales of patients were evaluated RESULTS: The evaluation included 66 patients (26 women, 40 men). A signifi cant increase was found in BMI (p = 0.01) and waist circumference (p = 0.00) together with elevated values of albumin (p = 0.02) and ferritin at the end of the project (p = 0.01). In women, there was a signifi cant increase in waist circumference (p = 0.00) and upper arm circumference (p = 0.03). From subscales of the SF-36 test, an increase in (p = 0.00) general health perception (p = 0.01) and the social function scores (p = 0.03) was observed in men. Beck Depression, Beck Hopelessness and Beck Anxiety Scale results showed that the anxiety and depression scores of the male patients had decreased signifi cantly. CONCLUSION: It was observed that regular transportation, adequate and conscious nutrition had positive effects on the treatment. We believe that social programs may have a benefi cial effect on the quality of life of hemodialysis patients in this region.