Introduction: In patients who have a chronic disease such as end stage renal disease for which cure is not a realistic goal, maximizing functioning and well-being should be a primary objective of care. However, functioning status in the dialysis patients is often lower than normal.

Materials and Methods: This study is aiming to determine the effect of self–care educational programs on decreasing problems and improving quality of life of dialysis patients. This study was a quasi-experimental research in one group (pretest-posttest) accomplished in the educational hospitals of Iran and Tehran medical sciences universities from 2003 to 2004. A total of 32 patients were chosen on the basis of a non-randomized sampling. Each patient was assessed in two sessions before starting the dialysis treatment by questionnaires about educational requirements and quality of life and a checklist of common problems in dialysis patients. In order to validate the results, the laboratory variables were analyzed as a two months average prior to the education. The authors designed an educational program on the basis of existing problems and then determined the characteristics of each person under study and the required education was presented in two sessions. After the educational period was ended, the laboratory variables (average two months) and quality of life two months after education were analyzed and also the checklist were studied in two stages with a time interval of two weeks (third and fifth weeks).

Results: There was a significant decrease in serum urea, uric acid, serum creatinine, K, weight gain, systolic blood pressure, edema, skin itching and local vascular problems. Also, there was a significant improvement in the patients’ quality of life.

Conclusion: Self-care educational programs have a positive influence on decreasing the problems and improving the quality of life of dialysis patients.