Background: One of the most common disorders of the urinary system and a significant cause of morbidity is nephrolithiasis.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the effects of a self-care programme for patients with nephrolithiasis on dietary practices. Design: A quasi-experimental study design.
Setting: The study was conducted at the urology department and urology outpatient clinic in Elhussein Hospital affiliated to Al-Azhar University Hospital Cairo, Egypt.
Subjects: A sample of (50) patients from both genders with nephrolithiasis ranging in age from 20 to more than 60 years old was collected from the urology out-patient clinic at El Hussein University Hospital.
Tools: Three tools were used to collect data include: Patients' interview questionnaire, Self-care knowledge assessment questionnaire and Self-care dietary practices questionnaire.
Results: 36% of the study subjects aged between 30 - > 40 while 4% less than 60 years. There was an improvement in patient knowledge post the self-care program than the pre-program in all items except the preventive strategies. Conclusion: The total self-care practices of the research subjects pre- and post-program had a significant relationship, and the demographic information, total knowledge and practices pre- and post-education, and total practices pre- and post-self-care programme have a highly statistically significant positive correlation.
Recommendations: Encourage patients with nephrolithiasis for self-care management programs to provide healthy lifestyle. Patients suffering from nephrolithiasis should participate in ongoing educational programs. More studies with a bigger sample size are advised in order to attain generalisation.