title: [The effectiveness of far-infrared therapy in hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula: a systematic review].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over 85% of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receive hemodialysis and 80% of hemodialysis patients in Taiwan contract arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Studies have shown that using far infrared therapy (FIR) improves AVF by improving blood flow. However, the systematic literature reviews have been insufficient to make definite conclusions regarding the effectiveness of this intervention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper uses a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the FIR intervention and to explore its effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Researchers searched the following five Chinese and English electronic databases for relevant articles: National Dissertations and Theses, Airiti Library, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and PubMed/MEDLINE. Keywords including "far infrared therapy", "arteriovenous fistula", and "hemodialysis" were entered. The search was limited to articles published before February 2014. A total of 98 articles that matched the search criteria were extracted. Article topics were screened and repetitions of topics were removed. Three articles met the study inclusion criteria and were selected for further analysis. An assessment of the quality of these 3 studies using the Modified Jadad Scale earned a score of 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings of this systematic review show that FIR interventions improve blood flow to and from the AVF and that the intervention decreases AVF malfunctioning. Currently, literature on this topic is limited in Taiwan. Therefore, more evidence is needed to validate the findings of the current study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study support the ability of patients with FIR to improve their AVF functions as well as the immediate clinical applicability of the suggested intervention. Although current empirical evidence supports the effectiveness of gripping a ball in maintaining AVF functions, many hemodialysis patients, due to age or illness, are not physically capable of doing this exercise. Therefore, FIR is a very good alternative measure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Fang-Ru
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Yueh
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Nai-Ying
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing & Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC. miaofen@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Miaofen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yen
mesh_terms: D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis
keywords: arteriovenous fistula; far-infrared therapy; hemodialysis; systematic review