Hydration Education for Dehydration

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Arizona State University

Must not be taking: Thyroid medication, Diuretics

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular, Renal, Hepatic, Pregnant, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 6 days

38 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are taking thyroid medication or diuretics (medications that help remove excess water from your body), you will not be able to participate in the trial. The protocol does not specify about other medications, so it's best to discuss your specific situation with the trial coordinators.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Hydration education and self-assessment for dehydration?

Research shows that patient education, especially when it includes self-management skills, can improve health outcomes in chronic diseases like asthma and heart failure. This suggests that teaching people about hydration and how to assess their own needs could help them manage dehydration more effectively. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the treatment 'Hydration education and self-assessment' different from other treatments for dehydration?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on educating individuals about proper hydration and encouraging self-assessment to prevent dehydration, rather than relying solely on medical interventions like oral rehydration solutions. It emphasizes personal awareness and proactive management of hydration status, which can be particularly beneficial for older adults who are at higher risk of dehydration. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The studies objective is to assess the efficacy of hydration education and the use of a self-assessment worksheet vs. a no-intervention control on improving fluid intake and hydration status in underhydrated wildland firefighters (WLFFs) and their surrogates. Part I allows to understand hydration status of the participants (screening phase), Part II confirms if participants indeed are deemed to be low fluid consumers, and Part III of this research is a clinical trial that will focus on the optimization of hydration by improving fluid intake (and as a result lowering urine concentration) allowing participants theoretically to improve exercise performance (acute) and optimize health on the long term.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for wildland firefighters and their surrogates who are not drinking enough fluids. Participants should be in a state of dehydration at the start, but without any health conditions that might interfere with the study or put them at risk.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants are part of a by the research selected wildland firefighter population (or surrogate population)

I identify as male, female, or other.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant or lactating

I have had weight loss surgery.

I have a heart condition.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Confirmation

Participants confirmed as low fluid consumers through urine and blood samples

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants undergo hydration education and self-assessment over 6 days

6 days

Daily monitoring (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for fluid turnover and activity patterns

4 days

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Hydration education and self-assessment

Trial Overview The trial tests if teaching about hydration and using a self-assessment worksheet can help increase fluid intake compared to no intervention. It's divided into three parts: assessing current hydration, confirming low fluid consumption, and then trying to improve hydration.

Participant Groups

Group I: Hydration education and hydration self-assessment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will participate in a 25-minute hydration education session that also includes instruction about how the use the hydration self-assessment worksheets and materials.

Group II: No Hydration education and hydration self-assessment (business as usual) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants do not participate in any education or self-assessment, other than applying their normal hydration strategies.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Arizona State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

311

Recruited

109,000+

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Collaborator

Trials

6

Recruited

2,300+

Findings from Research

A study involving 61 community nurses revealed significant gaps in their knowledge about heart failure self-management education, with correct responses ranging from 14% to 100% on a 20-item survey.

An educational intervention improved nurses' knowledge, as evidenced by over 90% of them answering more questions correctly after the training, highlighting the need for ongoing education in managing heart failure effectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving community health nurses' knowledge of heart failure education principles: a descriptive study. Fowler, S.[2015]

Patient education significantly improves compliance with therapeutic regimens in chronic disease management, with an average improvement of 0.67 sigma over control groups, indicating a strong effect.

While patient education also leads to improvements in physiological progress (0.49 sigma) and health outcomes (0.02 sigma), the most effective strategies involve behaviorally-oriented programs that focus on changing the patient's environment rather than just increasing knowledge.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does patient education in chronic disease have therapeutic value? Mazzuca, SA.[2019]

Nurses often lack the knowledge and comfort needed to effectively educate patients about self-care for heart failure, which can lead to poor patient outcomes and increased healthcare use.

Educational interventions that empower patients to manage their heart failure, particularly regarding fluid management, have shown to improve clinical outcomes, highlighting the need for better training and support for nurses in delivering this education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parallel paths to improve heart failure outcomes: evidence matters. Albert, NM.[2013]

In a study of 74 physically active elderly individuals in Portugal, less than 10% were found to be at risk of dehydration, indicating that most participants maintained adequate hydration status.

Food contributed nearly half of the total water intake (47% for women and 48% for men), highlighting the importance of water-rich foods and non-alcoholic beverages in hydration strategies, especially for men who had a significantly higher intake of alcoholic beverages.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Urinary hydration biomarkers and water sources in free-living elderly. Gonçalves, A., Silva, J., Moreira, P., et al.[2018]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving community health nurses' knowledge of heart failure education principles: a descriptive study. [2015]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does patient education in chronic disease have therapeutic value? [2019]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Asthma education and self-management: inevitable requirements to enhance disease control and achieve the goals for long-term asthma management]. [2008]

4. Brazil pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fluid and dietary restriction's efficacy on chronic kidney disease patients in hemodialysis. [2018]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parallel paths to improve heart failure outcomes: evidence matters. [2013]

6. Spain pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Urinary hydration biomarkers and water sources in free-living elderly. [2018]

7. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a screening tool to assess dehydration in hospitalized older population: a diagnostic, observational study. [2019]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A three-dimensional approach to hydration of elders: administration, clinical staff, and in-service education. [2019]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Oral rehydration therapy: a simple, effective solution. [2018]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical and laboratory evaluation and management of children with vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. [2019]