Quality of care of vascular access in hemodialysis patients in a hemodialysis center in Iran

Because of the lack of study in the field of vascular access care for hemodialysis patients, an observational study was conducted on 110 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in the Isfahan's AliAsghar Hospital. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a checklist related to vascular access care techniques. A total of 63 male and 47 female with an average of 40.02 months of hemodialysis were studied. In addition, 72 patients were under hemodialysis through arteriovenous fistula and 38 patients through subclavian catheters. The overall quality of care for vascular access site was moderate. Selecting an inappropriately high speed for the apparatus at the beginning of dialysis, needling of an aneurysm or needling near the fistula, and incomplete priming of the filter and the tubes were the most frequent inappropriate actions. Reinforcement of the nurses' continuing education programs and development of standard vascular access care protocols are recommended.