English abstract
Background: End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is marked by a loss of kidney function and
is considered a major public health problem worldwide. Patients with ESRD show less
ability to perform physical function and exercise. Thus, this can lead to the fast progression
of the disease and worsen the condition of the patient. Training exercises can improve
dialysis adequacy and quality of life (QOL) in patients with ESRD.
Purpose: To evaluate the effects of intra dialysis exercise (IDE) program on dialysis
adequacy, main arterial blood pressure (MAP), hemoglobin level (Hb), and quality of life
among patients with ESRD subjected to maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in Oman.
Design: The current study utilized the observational comparative effectiveness design. This
study involved comparing two groups of ESRD patients in relation to selected
biophysiological parameters and QOL. The first group is engaged in the IDE program, while
the other group is not involved in the IDE program from the Al-Seeb dialysis center in
Muscat.
Methods: Study groups assessed retrospectively for the biophysiological parameters by
using the electronic medical records including dialysis adequacy, Hb level before three
months from starting IDE and post three months, pre and post MAP before starting the IDE
program and after 6 months the QOL assessed post IDE program only for both groups by
using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short-Form 36 (KDQOL-36).
Results: Findings showed no statistically significant differences between the study groups
in terms of the biophysiological parameters. In terms of the QOL, the exercise group scored
significantly higher on the physical component summary (M = 59.86, SD = 23.39) than the
comparison group (M = 44.86, SD = 26.33, p = 0.001). The study showed that the overall
QOL score and the subscales for the exercise group were higher compared to the comparison
group, though, these differences did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion: This study provides information regarding the effects of the IDE program on
selected biophysiological parameters and QOL. The results revealed no difference between
the IDE group and comparison group on the selected biophysiological parameters. However,
the current study demonstrated that IDE resulted in improving the physical health for the
exercise group based on the KDQOL-36 scores.
