How can health care professionals convince patients to have an AV fistula and accept the long maturation period, and possibly one or more catheters as well?
Patients can’t simply be “convinced.” Health care professionals should discuss the outcome benefits associated with having an AV fistula (e.g., decreased infection rate, improved blood flow which increases adequacy of dialysis, decreased incidence of clotting) and make sure patients understand these benefits. Determining each patient’s actual concerns is also important. For example, a woman may be more concerned than a man about body image with an AV fistula. Once the patient’s concerns are known, they can be addressed to help the patient cope with specific challenges which may include body image, the long maturation process, and the potential need for one or more catheters.
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