Construction and application of a thirst prevention management program for maintenance hemodialysis patients based on the multi-theory model

XI Yingbo; LU Tingting; ZHANG Lianhe; WANG Jing

doi:10.12102/j.issn.2095-8668.2025.23.017

Abstract：Objective: To construct a preventive management program for thirst in patients on chronic hemodialysis, providing reference for clinical improvement of thirst symptoms, reduction of water restriction discomfort, and enhancement of patients' quality of life. Methods: Based on the Multitheoretical Model (MTM) of health behavior change, a preliminary draft of the preventive management program for thirst in patients on chronic hemodialysis was formed by systematically retrieving literature and using the interview method to integrate and summarize. The Delphi expert consultation method was used to conduct two rounds of expert consultations with 16 experts in related fields, revising and improving the program to form the final version. A total of 60 patients undergoing regular hemodialysis in our hospital's nephrology department from September to December 2023 were selected and divided into a control group (30 patients, dialyzed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) and an intervention group (30 patients, dialyzed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays). The control group received conventional thirst intervention strategies, while the intervention group received the preventive management program for thirst in patients on chronic hemodialysis based on MTM. Before intervention, and 3 and 6 months after intervention, the thirst condition and quality of life of both groups were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Thirst Distress Scale (TDS), Fluid Restriction Health Belief Scale, and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Results: Three and six months after intervention, the scores of VAS, TDS, and Fluid Restriction Health Belief Scale in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group, while the SF-36 score was higher in the intervention group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The constructed preventive management program for thirst in patients on chronic hemodialysis is scientifically developed, and its application can effectively alleviate the thirst discomfort of dialysis patients, enhance their health beliefs regarding fluid restriction, and improve their quality of life, providing reference for the prevention and management of thirst in patients on chronic hemodialysis in clinical practice.