JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) management requires multidisciplinary care and patient engagement, often limited by access to reliable resources. Digital platforms can address these gaps but must be user-centeredUsing a user-centered design (UCD) approach, we co-created Renaclic, a digital platform for CKD management

Objective:

To co-create Renaclic, a digital platform for CKD management, using a user-centered design (UCD) approach to enhance patient education, symptom tracking, and caregiver support.

Methods:

We employed a three-stage UCD process from April to August 2021 at La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France: (1) benchmarking 10 French CKD platforms and conducting semi-structured interviews with 3 healthcare professionals (HCPs) and 10 patients; (2) two focus groups with 5 patients (3 novices, 2 experts) and 4 HCPs to define content and interface; and (3) prototype co-development with a multidisciplinary team. Data were analyzed thematically, and card-sorting informed content hierarchy

Results:

Benchmarking revealed gaps in user-friendly CKD content, particularly for home dialysis and lifestyle management. Interviews highlighted needs for education on dialysis, transplantation, and practical tools. Focus groups defined five content categories: prevention, treatment options, kidney health, living with CKD, and further resources. The Renaclic prototype integrates educational materials, symptom trackers, webinars, and community forums, featuring a patient pathway, intuitive navigation, and accessibility features (e.g., adjustable fonts, 3D kidney avatar). A survey (n=12) favored videos (75%), FAQs (67%), and testimonials (58%).

Conclusions:

Renaclic demonstrates the feasibility of co-designing a digital platform to meet CKD management needs. Its UCD approach offers a model for developing patient-centered digital health solutions. Future studies will assess its impact on patient engagement and clinical outcomes.