1. Self-care in Preserving the Vascular Network: Old Problem, New Challenge for the Medical Staff.
- Author
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Sousa CN, Ligeiro I, Teles P, Paixão L, Dias VF, and Cristovão AF
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical methods, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nephrologists organization & administration, Physician-Patient Relations, Prospective Studies, Time Factors, Kidney Failure, Chronic therapy, Patient Education as Topic methods, Renal Dialysis methods, Self Care methods
- Abstract
Teaching/educating patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) and identifying their self-care behaviors for vascular network preservation are very important. However, the self-care behaviors regularly performed by patients are still unknown. We compared self-care behaviors for vascular network preservation performed by patients who are/are not followed-up by the nephrologist. The study design was a prospective, observational and comparative study. Inclusion criteria were as follows: ESRD patients (at stages 4 or 5); at least 18 years old; in pre-dialysis with at least a 6-month follow-up period by the nephrologist or who started dialysis in emergency and were not followed-up by the nephrologist; with no memory problems; and medically stable. Primary outcome was the frequency of self-care behaviors for vascular network preservation. Secondary outcome was the comparison between self-care behaviors by ESRD patients who were/were not followed-up by the nephrologist. The study involved 145 patients, 64.1% were female, the mean age was 69.5 years and the self-care behaviors mean score was 36.8% (with a SD of 39.8%). The number of patients followed-up and not followed-up by the nephrologist was 109 (group 1) and 36 (group 2), respectively. Social characteristics were similar in the two groups (P > 0.05). The mean self-care behaviors were 29.4% and 59.2% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.000). Patients performed self-care behaviors for vascular network preservation with a relatively low frequency (the mean score was 36.8% only). Patients not followed by the nephrologist performed self-care behaviors more often than those who were followed (59.2% vs. 29.4% respectively, P = 0.000)., (© 2018 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.)
- Published
- 2018
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