<p>The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of health education based on self-determination theory on hemodialysis knowledge, self-management, interdialytic weight gain and anxiety and depression in maintenance hemodialysis patients. The study is a quasi-randomized control trial, a total of 86 maintenance hemodialysis patients who met the inclusion criteria were included equally in the intervention and control groups. The control group received routine care, and the intervention group received health education based on self-determination theory. Three months after the intervention, the intervention effects were evaluated using the Hemodialysis Related Knowledge Scale, Self-Management Behavior Scale, Interdialytic Weight Gain, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Three months after the intervention, the hemodialysis knowledge scores of the intervention group was higher than that of the control group and baseline; the scores of the intervention group in problem solving, partnership, emotional processing, executive self-care dimensions and the total self-management scores were higher than that of the control group and baseline; the interdialytic weight gain of the intervention group was lower than that of the control group and baseline; the anxiety and depression scores of the intervention group were lower than that of the control group and baseline. All these differences were statistically significant (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Health education based on self-determination theory can improve the hemodialysis knowledge level and self-management ability of maintenance hemodialysis patients, and reduce the interdialytic weight gain and anxiety and depression level.</p>