Study of the quality of vascular access care among hemodialysis patients

Given the lack of study in the field of vascular access care for hemodialysis patients and its important role in longevity of vascular access, this study aimed to assess the quality of vascular access care among hemodialysis patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 85 patients undergoing hemodialysis in Ali-Asghar hospital of Isfahan in the second half of 2010. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a checklist related to vascular access care techniques, and analyzed by t-test and descriptive statistics and SPSS17 software. A total of 36 females and 49 males with an average of 46.44 months of hemodialysis were studied, among whom 25 patients underwent hemodialysis through subclavian catheters and 60 ones by arteriovenous fistula. The overall quality of care for vascular access site was moderate in 41.2% of cases. Selecting an inappropriately high speed for the apparatus at the beginning of dialysis, incomplete priming of the filter and the tubes, keeping open the outlet of arterial catheter while disconnecting the patient from the apparatus and needling of an aneurysm were the most common improper actions. Conclusion s: The overall quality of care for vascular access site has been in moderate level. Therefore, reinforcement of nursing continuing education programs and development of standard vascular access care protocols are recommended to improve care techniques.