A Comparative Inquiry into the Effects of Alcohol Used After Betadine and the Combination of Alcohol and Betadine on Vascular Access Inflammation Severity in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background: Looking after patients undergoing hemodialysis is very critical, because of the disease's complications. In the context of hemodialysis, the essential duty of nurses is reducing the inflammation resulting from the vascular access.Methods: This clinical trial was conducted during one month on 101 hemodialysis patients in Montaserie and Imam Reza hospitals, Mashhad, Iran. Sampling was accomplished using Non-probability Convenience method. Using random allocation, the patients were categorized into three groups including those who received a combination of alcohol and Betadine to disinfect the area (n = 37; henceforth, group (1), those who underwent a concurrent application of alcohol after Betadine (n = 33; henceforth, group (2), and the control group (n = 31)). In group 1, the vascular access site was disinfected with Betadine solution, and alcohol was mixed with a ratio of 2:1 before the dialysis initiated. In group 2, alcohol and Betadine were separately used for disinfection. In the control group, the routine method of disinfection was performed using Betadine, while antiseptic precautions were taken into account. During 12 sessions (4 weeks), the vascular access site of patients was evaluated,in terms of the inflammation criteria postulated by the Iranian Nurses Association. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software (Sig P < 0.05) Results: Mean inflammation severity was lower in group 1 in comparison with group 2 (P = 0.039). No significant difference was observed between group 2 and the control group (P = 0.079). Conclusions:This combination can be used, if the study is going to be repeated in other hospitals, due to the fact that the combination of alcohol and Betadine is a simple, inexpensive, and most importantly is an effective way for reducing the inflammation of the vascular access site in hemodialysis patients.