Nurses' knowledge and perspectives on pregnancy among dialysis patients

Pregnancy on dialysis is a rare and complex event, necessitating careful planning. Nurses play a vital role in the dialysis team, providing essential education and support to patients. This study aimed to explore nurses' knowledge and perspectives regarding pregnancy in dialysis patients.

An electronic survey was distributed to six dialysis centers in Saudi Arabia, spanning four regions. A total of 127 nurses participated, of whom 88.2% were hemodialysis (HD) nurses and 11.8% were peritoneal dialysis nurses. Survey responses were summarized using descriptive statistics, presented as percentages.

Regarding the impact of kidney failure on reproductive health, only 53.5% of respondents recognized it as a cause of menstrual irregularities. However, 82.7% acknowledged that it reduces fertility, and 89% responded "yes" to the possibility of pregnancy while on dialysis, with 61.4% agreeing that female patients of reproductive age with kidney failure require contraception. Despite known limitations, 63% identified a pregnancy test as the preferred method for pregnancy confirmation. In terms of dialysis modality, 63% believed HD to be associated with a higher likelihood of pregnancy. Additionally, 79.5% selected renal transplantation as a measure to increase the likelihood of pregnancy. Regarding pregnancy risks, 89% agreed it poses both fetal and maternal risks. Finally, only 18.1% reported consistently discussing pregnancy-related topics with reproductive-age patients.

Nurses are essential to patient education in the dialysis setting. This study identifies potential knowledge gaps and proposes a framework of learning objectives on reproductive health to be integrated into nursing training.