HealthDay News — A smartphone-based self-management system is feasible for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Stephanie W. Ong, from the University Health Network in Toronto, and colleagues developed a smartphone-based system to boost self-care by patients with CKD. The application targeted four behavioral elements: blood pressure (BP), medication management, symptom assessment, and tracking laboratory results. When predefined treatment thresholds were crossed or critical changes occurred, real-time personalized patient feedback and alerts were provided. Changes in clinical measures were assessed for 47 patients with stage 4 and 5 CKD who were followed for 6 months after recruitment.
The researchers found that user adherence was high and sustained, with more than 80% of participants performing at least 80% of recommended assessments. Significant reductions were seen between baseline and exit in home BP readings (systolic BP, −3.4 mm Hg; diastolic BP, −2.1 mm Hg). Masked hypertension was newly identified in 27% of those with normal clinic BP readings. The researchers identified 127 medication discrepancies, 59% of which required an intervention to prevent harm. Patients indicated feeling more confident and in control of their condition in exit interviews.
“Integrating a smartphone-based self-management system into usual care of patients with advanced CKD proved feasible and acceptable and appeared to be clinically useful,” the authors write.
Sources
- Ong SW, Jassal SV, Miller JA, et al. Integrating a Smartphone-Based Self-Management System into Usual Care of Advanced CKD. Clin J Am Soc Nephro. 2016; doi: 10.2215/CJN.10681015
- Smartphone Apps: A Patient’s New Best Friend? Clin J Am Soc Nephro. 2016; doi: 10.2215/CJN.09650316
