Knowledge and Self-care practice of Arteriovenous Fistula among Hemodialysis patients

Backgrounds and objectives: Hemodialysis is a crucial therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease, with arteriovenous (AV) fistulas being commonly utilized due to their durability and lower infection risk. Proper care and maintenance of AV fistulas are essential for their long-term functionality and efficacy in facilitating hemodialysis. This study assessed the knowledge and self-care practices related to AV fistula among hemodialysis patients.Methods: A quantitative, descriptive study design was adopted in Hawler Teaching Hospitals, Erbil City, Iraq. There were 112 patients interviewed from September 2023 to January 2024 by using a semi-structured questionnaire multiple-choice and three-point Likert scale to collect clinical and demographical data of patients to assess knowledge and practice, respectively.Results: The results of the study showed that the majority (48.2%) of the patients had inadequate knowledge, 31.3% had moderately adequate knowledge, and 20.5% had adequate knowledge regarding self-care of AV fistula. The majority (85.7%) of the patients had moderate self-reported practice, 14.3 % had poor self-reported self-care regarding AV fistula self-care, and none had good self-reported practice. A significant relationship was found between knowledge and practice of self-care of AV fistula with level of education, which was statistically significant at (p< .05).Conclusion: The study findings highlight inadequate knowledge and suboptimal self-care practices among hemodialysis patients, particularly those undergoing dialysis for one to two years. This underscores the critical need for patient education and support improvements to enhance AV fistula care and optimize patient outcomes.