Self-management program for adolescents with chronic kidney disease: A randomized controlled trial

Background: It is important to develop self-management behaviours in adolescents to prevent chronic kidney disease progression. Objectives: This study evaluates the effect of a self-management program that was developed based on individual and family self-management theory to aid adolescents with chronic kidney disease in the acquisition of competencies in the management of their disease. Design: This is a randomized controlled study. Participants: The study was conducted with 20 intervention and 20 control patients, who were treated at two hospitals in Ankara between December 2018 and May 2019. Measurements: Self-Management Assessment Form, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Adolescent Form and clinical parameters. A training program, specific to chronic kidney disease, was administered over three sessions in a group training setting when the patients came to the clinic for follow-up. After the training program was completed, the patients were monitored for three months through home visits once every two weeks, totalling six visits. Results: Following the application of self-management training, a statistically significant difference was found self-management knowledge and behaviours, quality of life and anxiety mean scores of intervention and control group (p <.05), a significant decrease in only blood urea nitrogen among the clinical parameters when compared to the control group. Conclusions: In this study, a self-management training program was developed based on Individual and Family Self-Management Theory, aiming to have a positive effect on the self-management behaviours of adolescents in the cognitive and psychosocial domains.