Investigation of the knowledge and attitudes of patients who are undergoing hemodialysis treatment regarding their arteriovenous fistula.
OBJECTIVE
The major cause of morbidity in hemodialysis patients is arteriovenous fistula deficiency. The patient should have adequate knowledge to ensure arteriovenous fistula patency. Our aim is to investigate the knowledge and attitude of the patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment regarding arteriovenous fistula.


METHODS
This study was conducted on 335 patients who met the study criteria. Data collection forms evaluating the "Socio-Demographic and Medical Characteristics" and "Knowledge and Attitudes about arteriovenous fistula" of the patients were developed following a literature review by the investigators.


RESULTS
The rules most known and implemented were "to not measure blood pressure" and "to not draw blood from arms with fistula", while the least known and implemented were "to use blood vessels on the hands in arms without fistula for intravenous intervention" and "to know which situations cause hypotension".


CONCLUSIONS
Hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistulas need to know that developing self-care behavior is a means to reconcile lifestyles with current health status. Accordingly, planned training in self-care should be provided to hemodialysis patients and their families, and nurses should repeat information to patients who demonstrate a lack of knowledge.
Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Okmeydani Research and Training Hospital Kasimpasa Building, Istanbul - Turkey.
Nurten
N
Ozen
Retired associate professor, Ankara - Turkey.
Nuran
N
Tosun
Gulhane School of Nursing, Health of Science University, Ankara - Turkey.
Fatma Ilknur
FI
Cinar
Division of Nephrology, Gulhane Research and Training Hospital, Ankara - Turkey.
Gulcan
G
Bagcivan
Division of Nephrology, Gulhane Research and Training Hospital, Ankara - Turkey.
Mahmut Ilker
MI
Yilmaz
Department of Pediatrics, Haydarpasa Sultan Abdulhamid Research and Training Hospital, İstanbul - Turkey.
Dilek
D
Askin
Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Gulhane Research and Training Hospital, Ankara - Turkey.
Dilek
D
Mut
Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Okmeydani Research and Training Hospital Kasimpasa Building, Istanbul - Turkey.
Volkan
V
Ozen
Can Dialysis Center, Ankara - Turkey.
Mujdat
M
Yenicesu
Dialysis Nurse, Ankara - Turkey.
Evis
E
Zajm
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult