Accuracy of the nursing diagnosis of excess fluid volume (00026) in chronic hemodialysis patients

Objective: to analyze the prevalence and accuracy of the elements of the Nursing Diagnosis of Excess Fluid Volume (00026) in chronic hemodialysis patients. Data collection: cross-sectional study with 127 patients. Data were collected by trained nurses, using an instrument containing sociodemographic variables, antecedent and consequent factors for the occurrence of the event. For analyzing accuracy measures, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. Synthesis of data: 79.5% of the sample presented the referred diagnosis. The most prevalent elements were “Compromised regulatory mechanism” and “Azotemia”. “Compromised regulatory mechanism,” “Azotemia,” “Decreased hematocrit,” and “Decreased hemoglobin” presented high sensitivity values, while “Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea,” “Adventitious respiratory sounds,” “Orthopnea,” “Pulmonary congestion,” “Dyspnea,” “Anxiety,” “Restlessness,” “Hepatomegaly,” and “Pleural effusion” presented high specificity values. Conclusion: the elements “Excessive fluid intake” and “Excessive sodium intake,” “Compromised regulatory mechanism,” “Azotemia,” “Decreased hematocrit,” “Decreased hemoglobin,” “Intake greater than elimination,” “Electrolytic imbalance,” and “Alteration in blood pressure” presented relevant sensitivity measures for inferring the Diagnosis.Thus, from the results obtained, one can infer that such elements were considered predictors of the Diagnosis under study. Prevalence results and accuracy measures can assist nurses in assessing the elements that make up the diagnosis of Excess Fluid Volume (00026), providing an accurate diagnostic proposition.