Development and Evaluation of an Online Self-Management Program in Patients with Chronic Kidney Failure Undergoing Hemodialysis

Abstract

Purpose: This study was performed to develop and evaluate an online self-management program for enhancing hemodialysis-related knowledge, self-efficacy, ways of coping, self-management behavior, physical and mental health-related quality of life in patients with chronic kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis.Methods: The research used a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group pre-post test design with convenience sampling. The participants were 53 patients (27 in the experimental group and 26 in the control group). A pretest and posttest were conducted to measure the main variables. For the experimental group, the online self-management program, consisting of counseling-centered activities in small groups, was administered for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using the x<sup>2</sup> test, t-test and independent/paired t-test with the SPSS 27 statistics program.Results: Statistically significant increases were found in hemodialysis-related knowledge, self-efficacy, active ways of coping, self-management behavior, physical and mental health-related quality of life but not in passive ways of coping in the experimental group compared to the control group.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the online self-management program was effective in increasing hemodialysis-related knowledge, self-efficacy, active ways of coping, self-management behavior, physical and mental health-related quality of life among patients with hemodialysis. Therefore, it can be safely utilized as a nursing intervention for patients with chronic kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis in pandemic situations with high risk of infection.