Abstract
Introduction. Home hemodialysis is an effective therapeutic option for patients with chronic kidney disease. As highlighted in the literature, its management requires good self-care abilities from the patient and adequate support for self-care from the caregiver. Therefore, the development of educational programs plays a fundamental role in patient care.
Aim. The goal of this study is to map the educational programs aimed at caregivers and patients undergoing home hemodialysis treatment, in order to identify gaps in the literature regarding this focus.
Methods. A Scoping Review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Potentially relevant articles were identified through a selection process on major databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar), without applying any time limits.
Results. The educational programs available in the literature for home hemodialysis patients focus on both clinical and psychological aspects; training through a “practical” approach is the most commonly used strategy.
Discussion and conclusions. The review highlights the crucial role that a multidisciplinary and multidimensional educational approach can provide to home hemodialysis patients. It is necessary to optimize educational strategies for this population to improve patient outcomes.
Keywords: home nursing, nephrology nursing, hemodialysis, self-care, renal dialysis, patient education