Accuracy of the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis hypothermia in patients on hemodialysis

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the accuracy of the defining characteristics of hypothermia in patients on hemodialysis. Methods: a diagnostic accuracy study was assembled within a cross-sectional study with 124 patients from two dialysis centers. A latent class model was used for data analysis. Results: the nursing diagnosis hypothermia was present in 13 (10.48%) study participants. The most prevalent defining characteristics were hypoxia (100%), decrease in blood glucose level (83.1%), hypertension (65.3%), piloerection (45.2%), and skin cool to touch (41.1%). The defining characteristics acrocyanosis (99.96%) and cyanotic nail beds (99.98%) had a high sensitivity. Acrocyanosis (91.8%), skin cool to touch (64.8%), and peripheral vasoconstriction (91.8%) had high specificity. Conclusion: specific and sensitive indicators of hypothermia work as good clinical indicators for confirming this diagnosis in patients on hemodialysis. The study findings can assist nurses in their clinical reasoning for a correct inference of hypothermia.