Table 2.

Observational studies included in the review.

Author/year	Purpose	Study Design/Sample	Self-care actions with AVF	Results	Evidence level
Clementino et al., 2018 [16]	To investigate the knowledge of patients with chronic renal disease on self-care with AVF	Quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive-exploratory study/32 patients	-To reduce water intake -To observe bleeding in AVF -To check AVF tremor	Of the 24 questions, the score of correct answers varied between 15 (62.5%) and 24 (100%) and 81.2% of the patients had a score greater than or equal to 20 correct answers	VI
Roso et al., 2015 [17]	To describe the limits and possibilities of self-care for people who are in conservative treatment of chronic renal failure	Qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study/15 people on conservative treatment	-Do not measure blood pressure in the arm with AVF -Do not carry excess weight with the arm with AVF	The study showed the following categories: the progress of the disease and its repercussions; the expression of autonomy; the support of family members to take care of themselves.	VI
Moreira et al., 2013 [18]	To Identify the customer care on hemodialysis treatment with the puncture site for the preservation of AVF	Qualitative, descriptive-exploratory study/17 clients with chronic kidney disease	-To avoid shocks and bumps in the AVF	The study showed that patients claim to know the care for the AVF preservation. However, not all extensive home care is followed by the majority.	VI
Pessoa et al., 2015 [9]	To identify the knowledge, attitude and practice in self-care patients receiving dialysis with AVF	Descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study/30 renal patients on hemodialysis	-To reduce water intake -Do not measure blood pressure in the arm with AVF -Do not carry excess weight with the arm with AVF -Do not allow punctures on AVF -Do not lie on the arm -To avoid shocks and bumps in the AVF -Taking surgical dressing care after AVF creation -To check AVF tremor -Performing exercises during postoperative period of making AVF -Caring for bruises -To wash fistula arm before HD	97.7% of patients had inadequate knowledge; The attitude was adequate in 70% of those who responded the survey; The self-care practice with the fistula was inadequate in 97.7% of patients.	VI
Sousa et al., 2018 [23]	To compare self-care behaviors for vein preservation by patients followed-up or not by the nephrologist in predialysis	Prospective, observational and comparative study/145 renal disease patients	-Do not measure blood pressure on the arm with AVF -Do not allow punctures on AVF -To avoid shocks and bumps in the AVF	Patients who were not followed-up by the nephrologist exhibited a higher frequency of self-care behaviors than those who were followed-up (59.2% vs. 29.4%, P = 0.000)	VI
Adib-Hajbagheri et al., 2014 [25]	To investigate the factors correlated to the complications of vascular access site in hemodialysis patients in Isfahan Aliasghar	Cross-sectional study/110 patients undergoing hemodialysis	-Do not measure blood pressure on the arm with AVF -Do not allow punctures on AVF -Do not lie on the arm -Do not carry excess weight with the arm with AVF	There was a significant association between some nursing techniques including cannulation technique, being aware of the pump speed at the beginning of dialysis, and some patients’ self-care techniques including doing fistula exercising and not sleeping on the limb with fistula, and the dimensions of aneurysm.	VI
Ozen et al., 2017 [8]	To compare self-care behaviors for vein preservation by patients followed-up or not by the nephrologist in predialysis.	Quantitative and descriptive study/335 chronic renal patients	-Do not measure blood pressure on the arm with AVF -Do not allow punctures on AVF -To observe steal syndrome signs -Do not carry excess weight with the arm with AVF	-The rules most known and implemented self-care actions: not to measure blood pressure and draw blood from arms with fistula. -The least known and implemented self-care actions: to use blood vessels on the hands in arms without fistula for intravenous intervention and to know which situations cause hypotension.	VI

Note: AVF, arteriovenous fistula.