Methods: Sixty-three hemodialysis patients in three general hospitals in Tehran were recruited. Patients were allocated into two groups at random for group and/or one-on-one education. They were asked to complete demographic and medical data. Interviews were also conducted to evaluate knowledge of hemodialysis patients about dietary and fluid restrictions in end-stage renal disease. Then, bi-monthly average values of serum potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphate, albumin, creatinine, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) were measured before and after teaching programs.

Results: Compliance in terms of biochemical parameters and IDWG was observed in 63.5% and 76.2% of patients in both groups after education, respectively. Sodium dietary restrictions were the most commonly abused (57.1%, n = 36) and BUN the least (20.6%, n = 13).

Conclusions: These findings demonstrated that educational intervention had a positive effect on patients' knowledge and made some progress with adhering to patients' dietary and fluid compliance.

Practice Implications: An educational program should be organized in all dialysis units in Iran.