The Effects of Self-Management Interventions on the Health Outcomes of Individuals With Chronic Kidney Disease After Critical Illness: An Integrative Review

Background Self-management is a crucial step towards achieving better physical and mental well-being and a better health-related quality of life for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Despite the high prevalence of CKD and the significant burdens faced by the individuals with CKD, their caregivers, and healthcare systems, very few studies have explored CKD and its consequences compared to other chronic diseases. Objective To synthesize and present the best available evidence on the effectiveness of CKD self-management interventions in terms of the biomedical, psychosocial, and behavioral aspects of health outcomes. Methods Three electronic English-language literature databases were searched from inceptions to March 2018. Two reviewers independently selected articles according to pre-specified criteria, critically appraised and extracted data from relevant research. Narrative summaries were presented because the interventions and study features of the included articles were heterogeneous. Results Of the five included articles, three were interventional and two were systematic reviews. Effective self-management interventions have beneficial effects on biomedical outcomes such as blood pressure, psychosocial outcomes such as quality of life and self-efficacy, and behavioral outcomes such as CKD knowledge, self-management techniques, and adherence to self-care regimens and treatments. Conclusions A self-management program that could provide better education and guidance for individuals with CKD is needed, as this would improve the provision of resources and preparations for foreseeable and avoidable CKD complications. The findings from the included articles demonstrate that limited amount of research has focused on CKD management. Additional randomized controlled trials that compare interventions with usual care are needed to determine the efficacy of CKD self-management programs.