Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To evaluate the effect of structured education on self-care behavior towards arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in hemodialysis patients. Methods The hemodialysis patients were randomly divided into the intervention group (n=48) and the control group (n=41). Patients in the control group received routine nursing, and those in the intervention group were treated with structured education. The self-care behavior towards AVF and satisfaction of the patients were compared before and after the intervention. Results In the control group, the total score of self-care behavior towards AVF (t=1.836, P=0.059), symptom and sign management score (t=1.954, P=0.582) and complication prevention score (t=1.768, P=0.611) had no statistically significances as compared with those before and after the intervention. In the intervention group, the total score of self-care behavior towards AVF (t=4.699, P=0.032), symptom and sign management score (t=3.288, P=0.027) and complication prevention score (t=4.005, P=0.025) were statistically significant as compared with those before and after the intervention. After the intervention, the total score of self- care behavior towards AVF (t=3.847, P=0.013), symptom and sign management score (t=2.589, P=0.027) and complication prevention score (t=3.255, P=0.023) were statistically higher in the intervention group than in the control group; the rate of patient satisfaction was higher in the intervention group than in the control group; the flexibility
(c2=6.028, P=0.031), independence (c2=5.745, P=0.025) and diversity (c2=4.321, p=0.032) were also statistically different between the two groups. Conclusion In the health education of self-care behavior for patients with AVF, the structured education has significant effects and can be widely used.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Arteriovenous fistula, Self-care behavior, Structured education