Coaching patients to succeed in adhering to a renal diet

As nephrology dietitians, we have the responsibility to provide useful information in understandable terms. This may involve different methods of education depending on the patients learning preferences. Once this is accomplished and we have checked for patient understanding, it is then the responsibility of the patient to adhere to the recommendations. Not all patients will follow our advice, even if they understand the rationale and know what they need to do. That is their choice. However, it is our responsibility to ensure we have provided patients with the tools they need in a way that is most conducive to modifying their behavior.