The patients with end stage renal failure are included in the treatment with dialysis and consequently have to adapt their diet, which is characterized by adequate amounts of potassium, sodium and phosphorus. Patients also give special attention to adequate liquid consumption. The main purpose of this Bachelor's thesis was to determine what the diet of dialysis patients in 2010 and 2015 was like and check patients' knowledge of food. In 2010 and 2015, 150 dialysis patients aged from 27 to 88 years were surveyed in two dialysis centers. There were 94 male and 56 female survey participants. In the research, it has been found out that dialysis patients obtain most information on nutrition from dialysis nurses and dialysis physicians. Both 2010 and 2015 survey participants told that limited liquid consumption was the major problem in terms of their diet. The knowledge of foods containing higher levels of potassium, sodium and phosphorus was poor independent of the year of the survey or the patient's gender. Diabetic patients on dialysis do not know the details of kidney and diabetes diets and have problems both with the regulation of blood sugar levels as well as with too high potassium intake and adequate liquid consumption in between two dialysis treatments.
The results of the study have highlighted the most common problems in the diet of dialysis patients. The results suggest nutrition education for dialysis patients should be given more attention. What is more, the education should also motivate patients to follow a healthy diet.
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