Cognitive changes in chronic renal patients during hemodialysis.

The Number Connection Test (NCT) was used to assess cognitive functioning in 29 chronic renal patients receiving hemodialysis. The patients required an average of 81 seconds to complete the test before hemodialysis compared to 98 seconds during hemodialysis (difference = 17 seconds) (t = 3.29; p = .0027). These findings cannot be explained by test order, sex, age, number of years on dialysis, or duration of each dialysis treatment. This study suggests that renal patients may have decreased cognitive functioning during the hemodialysis treatment. The dialysis period, though a convenient and popular time for patient education, may not be the best time to teach patients. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings and to identify the best and worst times for patient education for hemodialysis patients.