Empowerment Program for Mothers to Improve the Quality of Life of Their Children undergoing Hemodialysis on Arteriovenous Fistula Care

Abstract

Background: Children who receive hemodialysis can experience difficulties that might lower their quality of life and that of their mothers. Thus, empowering initiatives based on educational assessment needs will aid in enhancing mothers' knowledge, practice, and the quality of life for their offspring. Because of this, the aim of actual study is to: evaluate the effect of empowerment program on mothers to improve quality of life of their children undergoing hemodialysis on arteriovenous fistula care. Design: A quasi-experimental research design. Setting: this study was conducted in the Pediatric hemodialysis unit at Minia University Hospital for Obstetric and Pediatrics (MUHOP) and Minia General Hospital. Sample: A purposeful sample of 60 mothers and their children. Data collection tools: four tools have been used (1) a structured interview questionnaire sheet (2) mothers' knowledge assessment sheet, (3) observational checklists and (4) the Core Ped QoL questionnaire , version4. Results: These findings showed that the mean score of all mother's knowledge, practices, and children's physical and psychosocial dimensions, as well as the total mean score of children's quality of life in the post-empowerment program were higher than these in the pre-empowerment program, with a highly statistically significant difference. Conclusion: There was an improvement in mothers' knowledge and practice. Also, children QOL was improved and increased after implementation of empowerment program than before. Recommendation: Providing continuous empowerment program for HD children and their mothers and psychosocial and spiritual support for children and families to improve the children's quality of life.