Abstract: Objective   To implement evidence-based practice based on the evidences from exercise rehabilitation in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, and to validate the role of exercise rehabilitation in improving physical function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life in MHD patients.  Methods  The evidence-based continuous quality improvement model was used as the research framework, and an evidence-based program for exercise rehabilitation in MHD patients was conducted from January to December 2021 through evidence acquisition, status review and evidence introduction. A total of 80 MHD patients hospitalized in the Department of Nephrology, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January to March 2022 were then recruited and randomly divided into experimental group (n=40) and control group (n=40). After the exercise intervention, the muscle mass, muscle strength, 6-minute walking test, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. The awareness of sport rehabilitation evidence in medical staff was also compared before and after the evidence-based practice.  Results   Nine pieces of evidences were finally included, with a total of seven reviewed indicators. After exercise intervention, muscle mass (t=-3.302, P<0.01), muscle strength (t=-2.825, P<0.001), and 6-minute walking (t=-5.529, P<0.001) increased more in experimental group than in control group. The total scores of each dimension in the Health Survey Short Form increased more in experimental group than in control group (P<0.05). The awareness rate of sport rehabilitation evidence among medical staff increased by 40.74% before and after evidence-based practice, which has a statistical significance (P<0.001).  Conclusion  The evidence-based exercise rehabilitation practice can improve the body function, exercise endurance and quality of life in MHD patients.

Key words: Hemodialysis, Sport rehabilitation, Evidence-based nursing