Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Itching is an annoying symptom which afflicts patients with chronic renal failure. We aimed to assess the impact and patient\'s perception and experience of itching in the dialysis population in Italy.
METHODS: A questionnaire was developed by the National Hemodialysis and Dialysis Association of Italy (ANED) and administered to 996 hemodialysis recipients across 153 Italian dialysis centers. The main outcomes investigated by the questionnaire were patients\' satisfaction on answers regarding the nature of itching; continuing to talk about itching with the nephrologist; beliefs about resolution of itching.
RESULTS: A total of 1903 patients from 153 centers responded to the questionnaire. Patients who responded had a mean age of 67.9 ± 13.8 years (63.9% male) and were stratified by itch discomfort graded as mild (35.9%), moderate (29.6%), and severe (34.4%). Severe itching disrupted patients\' daily lives, strained their relationships, caused anxiety, and diminished their quality of life. Patients with severe itch were more likely to talk about it with dialysis staff and to undertake dermatological visits. However, only 18.0% of patients reporting severe itching found the clinicians\' responses satisfactory, compared to 49.1% of mild itch patients. Those who continued talking to nephrologists about itching received more satisfactory response. However, 40.8% believed itching could not be alleviated and were less likely to discuss it with nephrologists.
CONCLUSIONS: There is an intricate relationship between the severity of itching, patient perceptions, and healthcare communication among hemodialysis patients. A substantial proportion of patients experiencing severe itching expressed feelings of resignation, highlighting the pressing need for enhanced clinician-patient communication.
METHODS: A questionnaire was developed by the National Hemodialysis and Dialysis Association of Italy (ANED) and administered to 996 hemodialysis recipients across 153 Italian dialysis centers. The main outcomes investigated by the questionnaire were patients\' satisfaction on answers regarding the nature of itching; continuing to talk about itching with the nephrologist; beliefs about resolution of itching.
RESULTS: A total of 1903 patients from 153 centers responded to the questionnaire. Patients who responded had a mean age of 67.9 ± 13.8 years (63.9% male) and were stratified by itch discomfort graded as mild (35.9%), moderate (29.6%), and severe (34.4%). Severe itching disrupted patients\' daily lives, strained their relationships, caused anxiety, and diminished their quality of life. Patients with severe itch were more likely to talk about it with dialysis staff and to undertake dermatological visits. However, only 18.0% of patients reporting severe itching found the clinicians\' responses satisfactory, compared to 49.1% of mild itch patients. Those who continued talking to nephrologists about itching received more satisfactory response. However, 40.8% believed itching could not be alleviated and were less likely to discuss it with nephrologists.
CONCLUSIONS: There is an intricate relationship between the severity of itching, patient perceptions, and healthcare communication among hemodialysis patients. A substantial proportion of patients experiencing severe itching expressed feelings of resignation, highlighting the pressing need for enhanced clinician-patient communication.
摘要：
背景：瘙痒是慢性肾衰竭患者的烦人症状。我们旨在评估意大利透析人群瘙痒的影响以及患者的感知和体验。
方法：意大利国家血液透析和透析协会（ANED）制定了一份问卷，并对153个意大利透析中心的996名血液透析患者进行了调查。问卷调查的主要结果是患者对瘙痒性质的回答的满意度；继续与肾脏科医生谈论瘙痒；关于瘙痒解决的信念。
结果：来自153个中心的1903名患者回答了问卷。有反应的患者平均年龄为67.9±13.8岁(63.9%为男性)，并根据瘙痒不适分级为轻度(35.9%)，中等(29.6%)，严重(34.4%)。严重瘙痒扰乱了患者的日常生活，紧张他们的关系，引起焦虑,降低了他们的生活质量。严重瘙痒的患者更有可能与透析人员谈论并进行皮肤科就诊。然而,只有18.0%的报告严重瘙痒的患者认为临床医生的反应令人满意，相比之下，轻度瘙痒患者为49.1%。那些继续与肾病学家谈论瘙痒的人得到了更令人满意的回应。然而,40.8％的人认为瘙痒无法缓解，不太可能与肾病学家讨论。
结论：瘙痒的严重程度之间存在复杂的关系，病人的感知,和血液透析患者之间的医疗保健沟通。相当比例的严重瘙痒患者表达了辞职的感觉，强调迫切需要加强临床医生与患者的沟通。
方法：意大利国家血液透析和透析协会（ANED）制定了一份问卷，并对153个意大利透析中心的996名血液透析患者进行了调查。问卷调查的主要结果是患者对瘙痒性质的回答的满意度；继续与肾脏科医生谈论瘙痒；关于瘙痒解决的信念。
结果：来自153个中心的1903名患者回答了问卷。有反应的患者平均年龄为67.9±13.8岁(63.9%为男性)，并根据瘙痒不适分级为轻度(35.9%)，中等(29.6%)，严重(34.4%)。严重瘙痒扰乱了患者的日常生活，紧张他们的关系，引起焦虑,降低了他们的生活质量。严重瘙痒的患者更有可能与透析人员谈论并进行皮肤科就诊。然而,只有18.0%的报告严重瘙痒的患者认为临床医生的反应令人满意，相比之下，轻度瘙痒患者为49.1%。那些继续与肾病学家谈论瘙痒的人得到了更令人满意的回应。然而,40.8％的人认为瘙痒无法缓解，不太可能与肾病学家讨论。
结论：瘙痒的严重程度之间存在复杂的关系，病人的感知,和血液透析患者之间的医疗保健沟通。相当比例的严重瘙痒患者表达了辞职的感觉，强调迫切需要加强临床医生与患者的沟通。
