Nurses' Performance Regarding the Application of Preventive Measures of Hepatitis C virus Infection among Children Undergoing Hemodialysis

Background:Hemodialysis, widely used in the clinic, is an effective means for the treatment
of end-stage renal disease and prolongs lives of child with uremia. However, due to the long-term
blood transfusion therapy, the lower resistances of the body, as well as cross-iatrogenic infection
children undergoing hemodialysis were highly vulnerable to viral hepatitis infection. Aim of the
study was to assess nurses' performance regarding the application of preventive measures of
hepatitis C virus infection among children undergoing hemodialysis. Research design: A
descriptive exploratory design was utilized in this study. Settings: This study was conducted at
hemodialysis unit in Beni– Suef hospital and Elwasta – Central Hospital. Subject: A convenient
sample of all available nurses working at hemodialysis units who provide direct pediatric care and
willing to participate in the study. The sample was composed of 55 nurses (50 female &5 male).
Tools of data collection: The study tools were included: (1) Pre designed questionnaire sheet which
included two parts. The first part to assess characteristics of the studied nurses, second part to assess
nurses' knowledge regarding hepatitis C Virus infection in children undergoing hemodialysis (2):
Observational check lists to assess the studied nurses' practices regarding prevention of hepatitis C
Virus at hemodialysis units. Results: More than half of the studied nurses their ages ranged from
30-<35years almost, one third of them had diploma nurse and one third of them had 10-< 15 years
of experience, there is a statistically significant relation between the studied nurses' characteristics
and their total level of practices regarding preventive measures of HCV undergoing hemodialysis,
there is positive correlation between the studied nurses' total level of knowledge and their total level
of practices regarding preventive measures of hepatitis C Virus undergoing hemodialysis.
Conclusion: More than half of the studied nurses had good level of knowledge regarding
preventive measures of hepatitis C Virus infection among children undergoing hemodialysis while,
minority of them had poor level of knowledge. Also, it was found that, less than half of the studied
nurses had competent level of practices regarding preventive measures of hepatitis C Virus
undergoing hemodialysis. Recommendation: Continuous nursing educational intervention and in-
service training programs on dialysis units should be well implemented to upgrade the knowledge
and skills of practicing nurses regarding preventive measures of hepatitis C Virus undergoing
hemodialysis.