A PROGRAMME TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF HAEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS IN AN EXERCISE REGIMEN

SUMMARY Recent research has reinforced the idea that haemodialysis (HD) patients should exercise to maintain their physical functioning and improve their quality of life. Some effective exercise programmes are available for HD patients. However, these programmes are not always completed by the patients who enrol in them, and therefore, these patients do not maintain long-term physical activity. In this study, a support programme based on the concepts of self-monitoring, verbal reinforcement and motivation was developed to encourage continued participation of HD patients in an exercise regimen. Intervention group participants were provided a support programme in addition to the exercise programme, whereas nonintervention group participants were only provided the exercise programme. The two groups were compared for 12 weeks. The intervention group participants showed a significantly higher rate of continuation of independent exercise than the nonintervention group participants.