title: Construction and validation of a scale of assessment of self-care behaviours anticipatory to creation of arteriovenous fistula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We developed a scale to assess the self-care behaviours developed by patients with end-stage renal disease to preserve the vascular network prior to construction of arteriovenous fistula.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The possibility of creation of an arteriovenous fistula depends on the existence of an arterial and venous network in good condition, namely the size and elasticity of the vessels. It is essential to teach the person to develop self-care behaviours for the preservation of the vascular network, regardless of the modality of dialysis selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methodological study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The scale was developed based on clinical experience and research conducted by the researcher in the area of the vascular access for haemodialysis. The content of the scale was judged by two panels of experts for content validity. The revised version of the scale was administered to a convenience sample of 90 patients with end-stage renal disease. In the statistical analysis, we used the Cronbach's alpha, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and scree plot and the principal component analysis with varimax rotation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A principal component analysis confirmed the univariate structure of the scale (KMO = 0·759, Bartlett's sphericity test-approximate χ(2) 142·201, p < 0·000). Cronbach's α is 0·831, varying between 0·711-0·879.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This scale revealed properties that allow its use to assess the patients self-care behaviours regarding the preservation of the vascular network.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This scale can be used to evaluate educational programmes for the development of self-care behaviours in the preservation of vascular network. This scale can identify not only the patients that are able to take care of their vascular network but also the proportion of patients who are not able to do it, that need to be educated.
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior Enfermagem Porto (Nursing Scholl of Porto), Porto, Portugal.|Diaverum Portugal, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Clemente Neves
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior Enfermagem Porto (Nursing Scholl of Porto), Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Henriqueta
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Católica University, Porto, Portugal.|Unidade de Saúde Familiar St. André de Canidelo, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vanessa Filipa
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: School of Economics and LIAAD-INESC Porto LA, Porto University, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.affiliation: Escola Superior Enfermagem Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: João Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Apóstolo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care
keywords: arteriovenous fistula; haemodialysis; scale; self-care; vascular access