Investigating the Effect of a Structured Intervention on the Development of Self-Care Behaviors With Arteriovenous Fistula in Hemodialysis Patients
Clemente Neves Sousa, Ana Rita Paquete, Paulo Teles, Cristina Pinto, Vanessa Filipa Ferreira Dias, Olga Maria Pimenta Lopes Ribeiro, Carlene Souza Silva Manzini, Andressa Garcia Nicole, Lara Helk de Souza, Nurten Özen
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a structured intervention on the frequency of self-care behaviors with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) by patients on hemodialysis. This is a quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-measurements. Participants were assigned to an intervention group (IG) ( n = 48) or to a control group (CG) ( n = 41). IG patients were subject to a structured intervention on self-care with AVF (SISC-AVF) consisting of both a theoretical and a practical part. After SISC-AVF application, patients in the IG showed better overall self-care behaviors with AVF than patients in the CG (79.2% and 91.4%, respectively, p < .001) as well as better self-care concerning both the management of signs and symptoms (90.1% and 94.4% respectively, p = .004) and the prevention of complications (72.7% and 89.5%, respectively, p < .001). The study results suggest that the SISC-AVF had positive effects on patients in the IG.