Dietary Behavior Modification by Lifestyle Medicine to Improve Kidney Function in CKD Patients

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to develop the capacity of health personnel to carry out dietary behavior modification according to nutritional therapy principles (NTP) and to organize a project for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to modify their dietary behavior following NTP to restore kidney function. The project was assisted by health personnel according to lifestyle medicine practices. The research method was adapted from the study of the main author who conducted a quasi-experimental study in patients with CKD which resulted in kidney function improvement over a period of four weeks in the year 2019. The present study was conducted in two phases between February 2024 and May 2024. The first phase involved two training sessions to develop the capacity of health personnel according to lifestyle medicine guidelines, including thirteen volunteers, nursing staff and nutritionists. In the second phase, the trained health personnel implemented dietary behavior modification in accordance with lifestyle medicine guidelines for volunteer groups of CKD patients. A total of fifty-one participants attended 4 visits. The results of Phase 1 among personnel showed that the overall knowledge score improved significantly (25.69±2.18 vs 27.08±2.10, p<0.05). Additionally, the knowledge score of CKD increased (12.08±0.86 vs 12.62±0.87, p<0.05), and the NTP for CKD knowledge score also showed significant improvement (11.15±1.14 vs 12.39±1.33, p<0.05), and all personnel gained the capability to do motivational interviewing skills. The results of Phase 2 showed that dietary behavior of the CKD patients significantly improved (71.58±10.17 vs 74.28±9.93, p<0.05). Improved kidney function was observed in 49.02% of patients at the second visit,41.18% at the third visit, and 41.18% at the fourth visit included serum creatinine levels decreased. Noticeably, fasting blood glucose levels were controlled in every visit.