부산대학교 도서관

Background: Hemodialysis patients are the high-risk group for COVID-19 infection. Adequate knowledge, positive attitudes and implemented precaution behaviors are the key in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of educational programs on the knowledge, attitudes and practices toward COVID-19 infection prevention for hemodialysis patients and the relationships among such knowledge, attitudes and practices. Methods: This quasi-experimental research used a pre-post study design and applied convenience sampling in recruiting 228 patients undergoing hemodialysis at one medical center hospital in southern Taiwan. We conducted an educational program including individual lessons three times a week, 30 minutes each time for one week. A COVID-19 infection control booklet was also provided to all subjects. Scales covering evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward COVID-19 infection control were collected at baseline and two weeks after the intervention. Pre-post differences were analyzed by paired t-test and McNemar test using SAS 9.4. Results: The intervention with educational program improved patients' knowledge significantly (p＜0.0001). However, the pre-post scores of attitude (p=0.47) and practices (p=0.77) toward COVID-19 infection control showed no significant differences. Patients' knowledge scores were significantly correlated with practice and the attitude scores were significantly correlated with practice as well; neither of these scores indicated significant differences. Conclusions: These findings supported the effectiveness of educational program in promoting patient's knowledge. The results also suggest it is necessary to adjust intervention methods to enhance changes in patient's attitudes and behaviors regarding COVID-19 infection control in future.