Chronic kidney disease self-management topics and features of electronic health tool, with content suggestions and corresponding dot counts
Variable | Priority | Content suggestions | Dot count |
---|---|---|---|
Topic* | |||
Understanding chronic kidney disease | High | Basic information about chronic kidney disease
| 20 |
Basic information about kidneys and what they do | 17 | ||
How to slow progression | 15 | ||
Medium | Where to find credible and reliable information on chronic kidney disease | ||
Low | How to prevent chronic kidney disease | 2 | |
Timing of symptoms in relation to chronic kidney disease progression | 1 | ||
Learning new skills to manage chronic kidney disease | 1 | ||
Fertility and family planning | 0 | ||
Diet | High | Reliable information on diet and nutritional requirements | 18 |
Dietary changes required for chronic kidney disease and comorbidities (e.g., diabetes) | 17 | ||
Renal-friendly/-unfriendly foods (what to eat/not to eat) | 15 | ||
Medium | How to read food labels | 7 | |
Meal planning (e.g., how to make modifications) | 7 | ||
Low | Diet-tracking tools | 2 | |
How to identify renal-friendly food that is affordable | 2 | ||
Cooking classes | 0 | ||
Symptoms | High | How to manage symptoms and when to seek help | 18 |
What the symptoms of chronic kidney disease are, what causes them, what to expect as chronic kidney disease progresses | 14 | ||
When to act on symptoms, severity of symptoms | 12 | ||
Considerations for comorbidities and impact of treatment for other conditions | 11 | ||
Medium | Fatigue | 6 | |
Symptom expectations | 6 | ||
Low | How to slow progression of symptoms | 2 | |
Lack of symptoms (“silent disease”) | 1 | ||
Medications | High | Common medications for chronic kidney disease, adverse effects to watch for and how to manage them | 22 |
Indications for medications | 20 | ||
Cost, coverage, insurance for medications | 18 | ||
Medium | Long-term use of medications and implications | 4 | |
Low | Medication interactions | 3 | |
Interactions between Western and alternative therapies | 2 | ||
How to facilitate pill-taking | 0 | ||
Medication diary | 0 | ||
Mental and physical health | High | Recognition of mental health issues as a symptom of chronic kidney disease | 19 |
Support for patients and broader circle (e.g., family, caregivers) for mental and physical wellness | 13 | ||
Recognition of cultural sensitivity | 11 | ||
Screening for depression | 10 | ||
Addressing how to adjust to “new normal” | 10 | ||
Medium | Resources and support for mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, guilt, coping with burden) | 5 | |
Finances | High | Affordability and accessibility of medications, equipment, food | 23 |
Financial coverage and resources | 22 | ||
Long-term financial planning | 21 | ||
Low | Budgeting | 2 | |
Travel | High | Travel limitations | 18 |
Travel insurance | 17 | ||
Accessing health care abroad | 14 | ||
What to bring on work/leisure trips | 10 | ||
Medium | Medications for travel/letter of support | 7 | |
Travel to appointments and how to minimize travel burden | 5 | ||
Low | Support for caregiver travel | 1 | |
Volunteer drivers and supported transit | 1 | ||
Work and school | High | Accommodating work/school environment | 18 |
Integrating diet and medications into lifestyle (e.g., work and school environment) | 16 | ||
Supports and considerations for returning to work/school | 15 | ||
Restrictions for work/school | 11 | ||
Low | Arranging for respite | 1 | |
Features of electronic health tool | High | Pictures and visuals | 15 |
Ability to enter and track health information | 13 | ||
Accessible/“on-the-go” access to information | 12 | ||
Links to resources | 12 | ||
Ability to interact virtually with health care team | 12 | ||
Access to electronic personal health information | 12 | ||
Medium | Matrix style (ability to drill down to more detailed information) | 9 | |
Simple tool | 9 | ||
Ability to build own profile | 9 | ||
Quick tips and tools | 8 | ||
Online chat group | 8 | ||
Caregiver section | 7 | ||
Multimedia format (multiple features) | 7 | ||
Regular updates | 6 | ||
Reminders, alerts | 6 | ||
Secure messaging | 6 | ||
Privacy considerations | 5 | ||
Low | Multiple languages | 4 | |
Mobile app | 3 | ||
Information organized by disease stage | 3 | ||
Different sensory needs (e.g., visual, hearing) acknowledged | 2 | ||
Reliable, credible information | 2 | ||
Ability to download or save content | 2 | ||
Searchable feature | 2 | ||
Personal/patient stories | 2 | ||
Stage of readiness to learn considered | 2 | ||
Virtual coach | 2 | ||
Tinder-like application | 1 | ||
Favourites option | 1 | ||
Print feature | 1 | ||
Forum to submit questions | 1 | ||
Filters | 1 | ||
Podcasts/audio files | 1 | ||
Hierarchical format | 0 | ||
Ability to share calendar | 0 | ||
Decision aids | 0 | ||
Help feature (tool-use training) | 0 |
↵* Topics were not ranked.