Evaluación de los conocimientos prácticos de los pacientes prevalentes en diálisis peritoneal

Abstract

The training phase, when patients and carers are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out self-treatment, is vital.
The aim of the study was to assess the practical knowledge of patients in our Unit by carrying out a manual exchange and, as a result, assessing the need to establish a regulated retraining programme.
An observational, transversal study was carried out between February and April 2013, with prevalent patients, aged over 18, who had spent more than one month on home technique. An assessment test with 23 items was designed, which refl ected the
steps of a manual exchange and intraperitoneal medication administration; the assessment was performed by an impartial observer during a routine patient check-up.
Epidemiological, clinical and level of education variables were collected. The statistical analysis was performed using the computer package SPSS 20.0.
A total of 62 patients were assessed, 59 with Chronic Kidney Disease (24 on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and 35 on Automated Peritoneal Dialysis) and 3 with Congestive Heart Failure.
The average time using the technique was 19±20 months in manual, 24±27 in automatic and 8±4 in peritoneal ultrafi ltration.
The average number of correct answers was 18±3, with no difference in relation to the variables analysed.
In general, our patients are well-trained, with individual variations that do not depend on age, sex, education or time using the technique.
We consider that good training is not suffi cient, and that regular, personalized retraining programmes should be established.