Table 1.

Intervention studies included in the review.

Author/year	Purpose	Sample/Intervention	Self-care actions with AVF	Results	Evidence level
Fontseré et al., 2016 [21]	To determine whether a postoperative ambulatory controlled exercise program can increase AVF maturation at 1 month	31 patients in exercise group (elbow flexion-extension and wrist and open-closed hand) and 38 in control group	-To exercise program during postoperative period of AVF preparation	The exercise group showed greater clinical, but not ultrasonographic significance, maturation (OR 5.861, 95% CI: 1.006–34.146 and OR 2.403, 0.66–8.754)	II
Kong; Lee; Jang, 2014 [22]	To compare the effect of two different hand exercises on hand strength and vascular maturation in patients who underwent AVF surgery	10 patients in the first group (manual grip for exercise with GD Grip) and 8 in the second group (soft-ball exercises)	-To exercise program during postoperative period of AVF preparation	Cephalic vein size and blood flow volume were also significantly increased in both groups (P = 0.005 and 0.017 for the GD Grip/P = 0.024 and 0.018 for the soft-ball).	II
Barbosa et al., 2018 [19]	To evaluate the efficacy of blood flow restriction training on vessel diameter and flow, muscular strength and forearm circumference in chronic renal patients before AVF creation	12 patients in blood flow restriction training group and 14 in group without blood flow restriction training	-To exercise program during postoperative period of AVF preparation	An increase in the diameter of the cephalic vein in the 2 cm (P = 0.008) and 10 cm segments (P = 0.001) was observed in the control group.	II
Liu et al., 2016 [26]	To investigate the effects of a knowledge-attitude-behaviour health education model on acquisition of disease-related knowledge and self-management behavior by patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis	43 patients in control group (usual care and general education models) and 43 in intervention group (health education model based on attitude, knowledge and behavior)	-Do not measure blood pressure on the arm with AVF -Do not allow punctures on AVF -Do not carry excess weight with the arm with AVF	Self-management behavior scores (correct fistula care) for intervention group were also higher than those for control group (P < 0.001).	II
Salimi et al., 2013 [27]	To compare simple exercise to the supervised structured isometric exercise with tourniquet programme on the maturation of brachiocephalic fistulas	25 patients in first group (simple exercises with hands) and 25 patients in second (structured isometric exercises program)	-To exercise during postoperative period of AVF preparation	The number of patients who had clinically mature AVFs in case group was significantly more than control group (13 vs. 5; P = 0.008).	II
Uy et al., 2013 [28]	To assess whether or not an exercise intervention may increase venous size and allow AVF placement in patients who were not AVF candidates because of small vein size	15 renal patients, performed daily gripping exercises on chosen access arm for fistula and the arm not exercised as control	-To exercise program during postoperative period of AVF preparation	Isometric handgrip exercises resulted in a significant increase in proximal (P = 0.031) and distal (P = 0.011) cephalic vein diameter after four weeks in access arm. In non-exercised arm, an increase was also observed increase in the proximal (P = 0.004) and distal (P = 0.002) cephalic vein diameter in the same period.	III

Note: AVF, arteriovenous fistula.