โก Quick Summary
This scoping review investigates the role of mobile health (mHealth) in enhancing self-management among patients undergoing dialysis, highlighting its potential to improve patient outcomes. The study identifies key areas of self-management and the effectiveness of various mHealth interventions.
๐ Key Details
- ๐ Participants: 2068 patients undergoing dialysis from 34 studies
- ๐งฉ Focus Areas: Self-monitoring, diet and fluid management, medication management, disease-related knowledge, exercise management, psychological management
- โ๏ธ mHealth Interventions: Primarily single apps (n=22), with some using multiple online interventions (n=6) and remote monitoring systems (n=3)
- ๐ Theoretical Frameworks: Transtheoretical model, self-efficacy theory, social cognitive theory
- ๐ Evaluation Indicators: Interdialytic weight gain, serum potassium, serum phosphorus, serum albumin, adherence, self-efficacy, quality of life
๐ Key Takeaways
- ๐ฑ mHealth is a promising tool for improving self-management in dialysis patients.
- ๐ก Six major self-management areas were identified, crucial for patient quality of life.
- ๐ฅ Most studies utilized a single app for patient management, indicating a trend towards simplified solutions.
- ๐ Theoretical models like the transtheoretical model were frequently applied, guiding intervention strategies.
- ๐ Objective indicators such as serum levels were commonly used to evaluate mHealth interventions.
- ๐ Future research should focus on integrating AI technologies and addressing diverse patient needs.
- ๐ ๏ธ A standardized evaluation system for self-management is essential for future advancements.
๐ Background
The rising incidence of end-stage renal disease necessitates effective management strategies for patients undergoing dialysis. Self-management plays a critical role in the effectiveness of dialysis treatment and overall patient quality of life. With the advent of mobile health (mHealth), patients can receive real-time support, making it an invaluable resource for optimizing self-management practices.
๐๏ธ Study
This scoping review systematically explored the core elements of self-management among dialysis patients, guided by established methodologies such as PRISMA-ScR and PRISMA-S. A comprehensive search across multiple databases yielded 34 studies that met the inclusion criteria, focusing on quantitative research involving patients undergoing dialysis.
๐ Results
The review identified six major areas of self-management, including self-monitoring and medication management. Most studies employed a single mHealth app, with a focus on dietary and fluid management. The evaluation indicators highlighted the importance of both objective measures, like serum potassium and phosphorus, and subjective measures, such as adherence and quality of life.
๐ Impact and Implications
The findings underscore the potential of mHealth to significantly enhance self-management and health outcomes for dialysis patients. By leveraging technology, healthcare providers can offer tailored support that addresses the unique challenges faced by this population. The integration of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, could further refine these interventions, paving the way for improved patient care.
๐ฎ Conclusion
This scoping review highlights the transformative potential of mHealth in the realm of dialysis patient self-management. While promising, there is still considerable room for improvement in the development of adaptive software and standardized evaluation systems. Continued research in this area is essential to fully realize the benefits of mHealth for patients undergoing dialysis.
๐ฌ Your comments
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The Application of Mobile Health in Self-Management Among Patients Undergoing Dialysis: Scoping Review.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The incidence of end-stage renal disease continues to rise annually, with dialysis currently serving as the primary replacement therapy. The effectiveness of dialysis treatment and patients’ quality of life are highly dependent on their self-management. Mobile health (mHealth), which provides real-time medical support through portable devices, has become an essential tool for assisting patients undergoing dialysis in optimizing their self-management.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically explore the core elements of self-management in patients undergoing dialysis and clarify the primary applications of mHealth, including types of mHealth, relevant theories and models, mHealth-based interventions, and evaluation indicators.
METHODS: This study was guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s methodology, PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews), and PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Literature Search Extension). Databases, such as PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, were systematically searched from January 2010 until October 2025. The participants included in this study were patients undergoing dialysis, and the study design must incorporate quantitative research. Published protocols, reviews, editorials, conference papers, books, and non-English studies were excluded. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Quantitative studies were extracted, mapped, and summarized. The results were collated and synthesized using a structured spreadsheet.
RESULTS: Out of 1483 relevant studies, this scoping review ultimately selected 34 studies involving 2068 patients undergoing dialysis. Self-management among patients undergoing dialysis in this study included 6 major areas, including self-monitoring, diet and fluid management, medication management, disease-related knowledge, exercise management, and psychological management. Most studies used a single app (n=22) for management of patients undergoing dialysis, followed by 2 or more online interventions (n=6) and a remote patient monitoring system (n=3). The mHealth-based interventions in this study focused on self-monitoring, dietary and fluid management, and medication management. The transtheoretical model and stages of change (n=5), self-efficacy theory (n=4), and social cognitive theory (n=4) were the most commonly used theories. Among the evaluation indicators, interdialytic weight gain (n=12), serum potassium (n=14), serum phosphorus (n=20), and serum albumin (n=14) were the most commonly used objective indicators. Subjective indicators were assessed using scales, primarily covering adherence (n=17), self-efficacy (n=14), quality of life (n=12), knowledge (n=9), and diet and nutrition (n=9).
CONCLUSIONS: Although mHealth holds promise for improving self-management and outcomes among patients undergoing dialysis, there remains significant room for advancement. Future research in this field should focus on enhancing adaptive software development, deeply integrating artificial intelligence technologies, addressing the needs of special populations, and establishing a standardized self-management evaluation system. Our findings not only provide a theoretical framework for optimizing clinical management strategies for patients undergoing dialysis but also offer targeted guidance and practical insights for the subsequent development of apps.
Author: [‘Xu Q’, ‘Xu Y’, ‘Liu X’, ‘Ma X’]
Journal: J Med Internet Res
Citation: Xu Q, et al. The Application of Mobile Health in Self-Management Among Patients Undergoing Dialysis: Scoping Review. The Application of Mobile Health in Self-Management Among Patients Undergoing Dialysis: Scoping Review. 2026; 28:e76880. doi: 10.2196/76880