Opinions on the content and effects of the Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment (CARI) Guidelines: a survey of renal nurses and comparison with the opinions of nephrologists in Australasia.

AIM

Renal nurses in Australia and New Zealand are critical to the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those on dialysis. We aimed to obtain the opinions of renal nurses in Australia and New Zealand on the Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment (CARI) Guidelines.

METHODS

A self-administered survey was distributed to all members of the professional organisation for renal nurses (Renal Society of Australasia) in 2006. The results were compared with those from a similar survey in 2002 and an identical 2006 survey of Australian and New Zealand nephrologists.

RESULTS

Of the 173 respondents, more than 95% considered the Guidelines to be a good synthesis of the available evidence, 80% indicated that the Guidelines had significantly influenced their practice and 86% considered that the Guidelines had improved patient outcomes. Older respondents were less likely to perceive that the Guidelines had improved patient outcomes, and renal nurse educators were more likely to consider that the Guidelines were based on the best available evidence than other respondents. Respondents were generally more positive about the Guidelines in 2006 than in 2002. Although nephrologists were generally positive about the CARI Guidelines, renal nurses were more positive, especially regarding the effect of the Guidelines on practice and the improvement in health outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Australian and New Zealand renal nurses valued the CARI Guidelines highly, used them in practice and considered that they led to improved patient outcomes. Positive responses towards the Guidelines increased between 2002 and 2006.