Manage Abstracts

L. Wone, Fraser Health Authority, BC

Maintaining muscle mass is a key goal of nutrition care interventions. Yet, adequate nutrition in the absence of physical activity will not improve muscle mass or function and in turn impacts sarcopenia, risk for falls and health outcomes. Individuals who are dialysis dependant have high rates of inactivity due to increased uremic symptoms, fatigue and time spent on dialysis. Increasingly across Canada, intradialytic exercise is used to increase physical activity and mitigate dialysis related symptoms such as restless legs, cramping and potentially improve mood. Home Hemodialysis (HHD) patients typically have less access to intradialytic exercise programs and equipment.

To demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating bike loans into HHD program.

A logic model and evaluation plan were developed. The logic model identified the inputs (BC Renal funding, consultation with Calgary Renal Program, HHD team support), activities (purchase bikes, create forms and educational material, promote and recruit participants, ESAS-r scores, follow up surveys), outputs (frequency of bike use) and outcomes of the bike loan project. Feasibility measures included number of patients enrolled in the bike loan project, patient-reported use of the bikes, reasons for lack of use, and clinicians' qualitative feedback on barriers and facilitators to the program.

Over 12 months, 23 HHD patients received a 3 month bike loan. 65% of patients used the bikes 2 or more times per week, both on and off dialysis. Time spent on bike ranged from 15-120 minutes. Barriers identified include securing funding and limited availability of bikes supply during the pandemic, while facilitators were promotion of biking via email, HHD newsletters and HHD team members.

Incorporating bike loans into HHD programs is feasible and promotes increased awareness about the importance of activity. Clinicians who are interested in exploring similar programs should consider the barriers and facilitators when developing their implementation plan.

If dietitians want to see greater impact of their nutrition care interventions, attention should be paid to encouraging exercise among their patients. This poster demonstrates one feasible method for increasing exercise among HHD patients.

BC Renal