Assessing the Effectiveness of a Nurse-Led Intervention on Health-Related Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients: A Pre-Post Study

Background Diabetes, hypertension, and aging are causing a global increase in CKD, significantly affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Hemodialysis presents challenges impacting HRQoL. Nurse-led interventions (NLIs) have shown promise in chronic disease management by empowering patients, yet Indian research on this is limited. This study evaluated an NLI aimed at enhancing HRQoL in hemodialysis patients in Delhi, India. Materials and Methods Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design, the HRQoL of 50 hemodialysis patients was assessed with the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF) questionnaire. The 45-day NLI involved educational sessions, skill-building, and psychosocial support. Pre- and post-intervention KDQOL-SF scores were compared with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results In 47 patients who completed the study, significant improvements were observed in overall KDQOL scores ( p = 0.001), symptom management ( p = 0.004), emotional well-being ( p = 0.006), and physical functioning ( p = 0.024). Mental health also improved, while domains like kidney disease burden and cognitive function showed no change. Socioeconomic status (SES) and health insurance impacted HRQoL outcomes. Conclusion The NLI effectively enhanced HRQoL in hemodialysis patients, particularly in symptom management and emotional and physical well-being. Findings highlight the need for nurse-led programs in resource-limited settings to improve patient self-efficacy and outcomes.