Compliance with dietary and fluid restrictions is vitally important for continued health and well being in patients requiring renal dialysis. A multichoice postal questionnaire was used to assess the patients' knowledge of their dietary status and perceptions of our dietetic service. This was completed by 78 of 100 (78%) of hemodialysis (HD) patients and 27 of 56 (48%) of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Several problem areas were observed. Most (86%) of the HD patients knew that high potassium levels are important, but 38% admitted difficulty controlling these levels. Seventy-two percent of HD and 45% of CAPD patients believed high potassium levels affected blood pressure. Problems in maintaining fluid restrictions were reported by 56% of HD and 41% of CAPD patients. However 30% of HD and 32% of CAPD patients admitted to using guesswork when estimating daily fluid intake. In general, patients failed to distinguish between dry and wet weight. Appetite was assessed as less than satisfactory by 16% of HD patients and 14% of CAPD patients. Mean body mass index in these patients was 19.5kg/m 2 for HD and 19.0kg/m 2 for CAPD indicating a need for increased energy intake. The dietetic service was assessed as satisfactory by 65% of HD patients and 85% of CAPD patients. Overall, dialysis patients' understanding of nutritional advice was less than satisfactory. In response to highlighted problems, renal diet sheets have been redesigned to include more information on the purpose of dietary changes and on foods that are unrestricted. Dietetic time has been increased to support more nutritional counseling. The project has increased awareness of the effect of poor understanding of nutritional advice on compliance.