Supervisors info:
Παναγίωτα Σουρτζή, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Βενετία-Σοφία Βελονάκη, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Δήμητρα Παϊκοπούλου, ΕΔΙΠ, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Introduction: Dialysis is a very important treatment that keeps the patient alive, but it is also a very complex process characterized by multiple risks and complications for both the patient and the health professionals who perform it. Indeed, these health professionals, and especially nurses, tend to suffer from a variety of physical and mental injuries.
Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the occupational hazards in the artificial kidney unit.
Methodology: For the most thorough study of the subject of the present study, a systematic review of the most recent studies was selected to be conducted. Scientific articles were searched in the scientific databases Pubmed and Scopus, using various keywords, such as the following: Kidney, Kidney units, Renal, Renal units, Hemodialysis, Haemodialysis, Hemodialysis units, Hemodialysis centers, Dialysis, Dialysis units, and Health professionals.
Results: In total, 31 articles were identified and analyzed. Of these articles, 5 concerned physical health risks, 12 concerned mental health risks and workload, 4 concerned the risk of COVID – 19 infection, 6 the burnout, 2 were about compassion fatigue and 2 about violence.
Discussion - Conclusions: Health professionals working in artificial kidney units are constantly at risk, either physically or psychologically. These health professionals, and especially nurses, tend to suffer from a variety of physical and mental injuries, and especially today, due to the COVID - 19 pandemic, unprecedented high levels of stress and uncertainty have been observed in health professionals working in these units. Stressors can have a negative effect on their health, cause compassion fatigue and / or burnout, and even lead to illness or even the resignation of these professionals.
Keywords:
Artificial kidney units, Dialysis, Renal failure, Health professionals, Rrisk
