JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Smart device applications hold potential to enhance patient self-management of chronic conditions including chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective:

The objective of this study was to develop a mobile app to facilitate self-management of non-dialysis-dependent CKD.

Methods:

Our stakeholder team included four patients with stage 3-4 non-dialysis dependent CKD, a kidney transplant recipient, a caretaker, CKD providers (pharmacists, a nurse, primary care physicians, a nephrologist, and a cardiologist), two health services and CKD researchers, a researcher in biomedical informatics, nutrition, and obesity, a system developer and two programmers. Focus groups and in-person interviews with the patients and providers were conducted using a guide that was based on existing literature of CKD self-management and the mobile app quality criteria from the Mobile App Rating Scale. Qualitative analytic techniques including the constant comparative method were used to analyze the focus group and interview data.

Results:

Patients and providers identified and discussed a list of requirements and preferences regarding the content, features and technical aspects of the mobile app that are unique for CKD self-management. Requirements and preferences centered along themes of communication between patients and caregivers, partnership in care, self-care activities, adherence to treatment regimens, and self-care self-efficacy. These identified themes informed the features and content of our mobile app.

Conclusions:

Patients with CKD and CKD providers believe a mobile app can enhance CKD self-management via facilitating patient-provider communication and enabling self-care activities including adherence to treatment.