Nontunneled hemodialysis catheter among acute renal failure patients: nurses’ knowledge and practices at El Fayoum Insurance Hospital

Abstract

Background Hemodialysis requires access to blood vessels capable of providing rapid extracorporeal blood flow. A nontunneled catheter can be placed for initiation of acute hemodialysis. If dialysis for more than a week or so is likely, a cuffed, tunneled catheter can be used instead. Hemodialysis nursing is a specialized area of nursing practice focusing on the needs of patients with renal failure and their families across the lifespan. Aim The aim of the present study was to assess nurses’ knowledge and practices related to management of nontunneled hemodialysis catheter among acute renal failure patients. Design A descriptive exploratory research design was used in the present study. Setting The present study was carried out at the hemodialysis unit of El Fayoum Insurance Hospital. Sample A purposive sample of 50 male and female nurses working in the hemodialysis unit of El Fayoum Insurance Hospital was selected over a period of 6 months. Tools of data collection Two tools were developed by the investigator to collect data: tool 1–nurses’ knowledge self-administered questionnaire consists of two parts − part one covers nurses’ personal background data, whereas part two covers knowledge assessment data; tool 2–nurses’ practice observational checklist. Structured interviews and direct observation were utilized for data collection. Results The entire study sample had unsatisfactory level of knowledge, and all of them had unsatisfactory levels of practice regarding nontunneled hemodialysis catheter management. There was a significant, positive statistical correlations between age, years of experience, and total knowledge scores. In addition, there was a significant statistical correlation between age, years of experience, and total practice scores, and there was a significant statistical correlation between total knowledge and total practice scores. Conclusion The results of the present study showed a real gap between nurses’ knowledge and practices as compared with evidence-based guidelines of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Knowledge regarding nontunneled hemodialysis catheter management was unsatisfactory, and the level of nurses’ practice was unsatisfactory. Recommendation The hospital should provide regular, continual training for nurses regarding use of nontunneled hemodialysis catheter, and ongoing clinical and educational competencies evaluation should be carried out.