Factors influencing the patient education performance of hemodialysis unit nurses

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify the perceptions, barriers, and facilitators of patient education and factors influencing the performance of patient education among hemodialysis unit nurses.

Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational design in which a total of 262 nurses from 27 hemodialysis facilities in six provinces in the Republic of Korea participated. Self-administered questionnaires were used to identify the perceptions, barriers, facilitators, and performance of patient education. Data were analyzed using a t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and stepwise multiple regression.

Results: Factors influencing patient education performance were nurses' total clinical experience, perceptions, working experience in a hemodialysis unit, facilitators, number of nurses in the hemodialysis unit, and barriers. These variables accounted for 37.2 % of the variance in the final model.

Conclusion: Nurses' performance in patient education was significantly influenced by perceptions, facilitators, and barriers. Nurses' total clinical experience, working experience in a hemodialysis unit, and number of nurses in the unit also influenced patient education performance.

Practice implications: A nurse training program should be developed to reinforce nurses' patient education competency.

Keywords: Hemodialysis; Nurse; Patient education; Perception; Performance; Survey.