Análisis enfermero de la presencia de la técnica del ojal en las unidades de hemodiálisis Españolas

Abstract

The use of the Buttonhole Technique for vascular access puncture in haemodialysis units in Spain is lower and its implementation is slower than in other European countries. Our experience with the buttonhole technique both in promoting selfcare of home haemodialysis patients and patients who re-ceive haemodialysis at the unit, and in the rescue of diffi cult arteriovenous fi stulae, has been very posi-tive, both for patients and professionals.The objectives of our study are based on:• Determining the degree of presence of the but-tonhole technique for vascular access puncture in Spanish haemodialysis units.• Identifying the elements related to its limited presence.• Proposing nursing strategies to increase its pres-ence.This is a transversal descriptive study. The popula-tion studied was comprised of the Spanish haemo-dialysis units. To carry out the study a semi-closed questionnaire was drawn up (which was sent to 436 haemodialy-sis units, obtaining 135 responses: response rate > 31 % of the questionnaires sent, which validates them). Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS 17.0 statistical programme. The relative frequencies of the qualitative variables studied were analysed, as well as the absolute frequencies of the variables with a population of less than 10 cases.Following the results obtained, we can conclude that there is a great difference between the Spanish haemodialysis units that claim to be familiar with the technique and those that use it. This suggests to us that the knowledge could be labelled as “by reference” and not in-depth knowledge; that the knowledge of the technique is theoretical but not suffi cient for implementation; that although it is a nursing technique, its use is partially conditioned by nephrologists’ opinion and/or knowledge of it; finally, in order to increase the use of the buttonhole technique, practical workshops on the technique would have to be planned, and the logistical problems would have to be addressed.