ABSTRACT
Patients' with end-stage renal disease need to adhere to treatment regimen in four aspects; dialysis, medication, fluid and dietary restrictions. Adherence is thought to improve health related quality of life of these patients. Adherence level to treatment regimen varies and so also is the health related quality of life among haemodialysis patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess adherence to treatment regimen on health related quality of life among haemodialysis patients in selected hospitals in Kano metropolis. The objectives were to determine level of adherence to treatment regimen and health related quality of life, to identify factors affecting adherence to treatment and to explore the relationship between adherence and health related quality of life among haemodialysis patients in Kano metropolis. The health belief model was applied as a theoretical framework. A descriptive cross sectional correlation study was carried out using a modified version of End-Stage Renal Disease adherence Questionnaire and Short Form 36 questionnaire as data collection tools for adherence to treatment and health related quality of life respectively. A total of 83 patients participated in the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the study revealed mean age of 43.9�12.7 years, 53% of patients were male and majority are married (78.3%). Majority of the patients undergo two sessions (62.7%) of dialysis per week, while 90.4% spent 4 hours per session. Overall good adherence level was 55.4%. Factors such as financial constraint, clotted vascular access, side effects of haemodialysis and poor knowledge of fluid and dietary restrictions were found to affect adherence. The overall health related quality of life of 62.7% of the patients was low. There was a statistical significance between adherence and health related quality of life using Pearson's correlation (r= 0.275, P < 0.012). It can be concluded that, there is still the need for haemodialysis patients to improve on adherence to treatment regimen. Based on these there is the needs to raise the standards of patients' education among health care professionals. Both the Federal and State governments need to subsidize treatment for patients with renal disease towards improving adherence to treatment regimen.