Self‐Care Behavior of Hemodialysis Patients With Arteriovenous Fistula in China: A Multicenter, Cross‐Sectional Study

Abstract Improving the level of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) self‐care behavior by people receiving hemodialysis is an effective way to reduce the occurrence of complications and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the self‐care behavior of Chinese patients undergoing hemodialysis with arteriovenous fistula. The assessment of self‐care behaviors with arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis (ASBHD‐AVF, Portuguese version) was translated into Chinese using Brislin's translation model. The content validity was evaluated by six experts. Then we involved 301 hemodialysis patients with AVF to explore the construct validity of the Chinese version of ASBHD‐AVF. Ultimately 216 patients from eight dialysis centers of general hospitals in China were recruited to evaluate the patients’ self‐care behavior about AVF. Measures included demographic questionnaire, and the Chinese ASBHD‐AVF. The Chinese ASBHD‐AVF that included 12 items has a good internal consistency (α = 0.865) and content validity (CVI = 0.979). Principal component analysis generated two factors which explained 53.525% of the total variance. About 69.9% of hemodialysis patients’ AVF self‐care behavior were at a low or moderate level. The level of self‐care behavior and knowledge need to be improved. Nurses should give specific guidance according to the patients’ own characteristics and different influence factors, in order to improve the recipients’ self‐care behavior.