Evaluation of the hemodialysis knowledge and skill levels of nurses and the affecting factors

Introduction: Kidney failure is considered a life-threatening disease that affects approximately 200,000 people worldwide. Hemodialysis is one of the most widely used treatments for kidney failure. Objective: In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between the knowledge and skills of nurses working in the hemodialysis unit about hemodialysis and socio-demographic data. Method: In this study, a descriptive cross-sectional design was used, and the study was carried out in the Al-Sadder medical city Hemodialysis unit in AL-Najaf AL-Ashraf between 1 November 2021 and 31 April 2022. The total number of nurses in the hospital research sample is 182. The sample size was determined as 110 according to the 95% and 50% confidence intervals. A total of 110 nurses who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in this study were included. The data were collected using the "Descriptive Information Form", "Hemodialysis Information Test, and Hemodialysis Performance Test". Results: According to the results of the study, nurses' knowledge point average was 12.48 ± 1.81 and at a good level; skill point average is 14.76 ± 2.25 and it is moderate. "Hemodialysis Knowledge Test" (H=3.988; p<0.05) and the "Hemodialysis Application Test" (H=1.845; p<0.05) scores of the nurses, whose age group was "32-40", were determined significantly higher than the other age groups. "Hemodialysis Knowledge Test" scores were found to be significantly higher in married people compared to singles (u=1200, p<0.05). The "Hemodialysis Knowledge Test" score averages of the nurses who participated in the training courses on hemodialysis were found to be significantly higher than the nurses who did not attend the training courses (u=1198; p<0.05). A significant and positive relationship was found between the "Hemodialysis Knowledge Test" and the years of hospital experience (r=0.072; p<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that the "Hemodialysis Knowledge and Practice Test" revealed a significant relationship between the factors of age, marital status, and previous participation in education. It is recommended that more detailed and larger sample studies should be carried out to determine the knowledge and application score averages about hemodialysis applications.