SERDANG, 7 July 2026 - The Putra Renourish Program, a nutritional intervention program that focuses on improving nutritional knowledge and practices among dialysis patients and caregivers, has been successfully implemented by final year students, Bachelor of Science in Dietetics with Honours, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in collaboration with Pusat Dialysis Putra Renal Intervention & Dialysis Centre, UPM (PRINCE). It also aims to support the management of chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis more effectively and practically.

This program is the result of a strategic collaboration between the Bachelor of Science in Dietetics with Honours, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), UPM and the PRINCE Dialysis Center, UPM as an effort to connect academic learning with community services through a nutrition education approach that is based on the latest information and follows current developments.

This program was attended by Dato' Prof. Dr. Ahmad Farhan bin Mohd Sadullah, Vice Chancellor of UPM, and Prof. Dr. Zamberi bin Sekawi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation).

Coordinator of the Community Dietetics Professional Practicum (DTK4904), FPSK, UPM, Dr. Noraida Omar said the six-week programme was developed based on the findings of a needs assessment conducted with the hemodialysis patient community. She said the assessment identified key issues such as inadequate protein intake and high phosphate food intake. Therefore, various nutritional interventions and interactive activities were planned to improve participants' knowledge, attitudes and nutritional practices.

The program, led by Mr. Ong Chong Yu, Director of Putra Renourish, aims to increase patient awareness of the importance of proper nutrition in the management of chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis. Through various interactive activities and educational sessions, participants were exposed to more appropriate food choices, controlling the intake of essential nutrients during dialysis, and nutritional practices that can help improve the quality of life and effectiveness of dialysis patient treatment.

In addition, to strengthen the delivery of nutrition education, this program continued with a group counseling session as a follow-up activity with the participants. Participants were divided into three small groups which allowed the session to be conducted in a more interactive and focused manner. The counseling session was conducted based on three main topics, namely adequate protein intake, fluid intake control and phosphate intake management.

In addition to involving dialysis patients, this counseling session was also attended by nurses and health care assistants (PPK) from PRINCE, UPM. Their involvement opened up a space to understand more deeply the challenges faced by health workers in helping patients practice daily dietary recommendations and manage treatment compliance.

Throughout the session, participants were also encouraged to share their experiences, challenges and daily dietary practices they faced while undergoing dialysis treatment. The more friendly counseling atmosphere also encouraged the participants' active involvement, thus increasing their confidence to adopt dietary changes that are appropriate for dialysis patients.

The Putra Renourish program also provides an opportunity for UPM's final year dietetics students to apply knowledge (experiential learning), nutrition counseling skills and professional communication with the community and patients, thus strengthening the competencies of future dietetic officers before entering the world of work.

The close collaboration between PRINCE and the UPM Dietetics Department reflects the commitment of both parties in strengthening health education and expanding the impact of knowledge transfer to the community. Through an approach that combines education and nutrition interventions, this program not only benefits dialysis patients and caregivers, but also contributes to the development of graduates who are competent, skilled and ready to meet the needs of the national healthcare sector.

Overall, through the organization of the Putra Renourish Program and the active involvement of students with the community, it is hoped that more dialysis patients will gain accurate knowledge regarding nutrition, thus adopting a healthier lifestyle and improving their quality of life. This program is also expected to be an ongoing platform in improving nutrition literacy among dialysis patients and strengthening relationships between academic institutions and Health Service Centers for the benefit of the community.

Date of Input: 16/07/2026 | Updated: 16/07/2026 | nadia_rahman