The Expert Patient and Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Disentangling trust of patients with rare cancer in their healthcare professionals and the healthcare system: a qualitative interview study

PURPOSE

Patients with a rare cancer face challenges, e.g., delayed diagnosis, that may affect trust in the healthcare system and the healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved. This study aimed to explore trust of patients with a rare cancer in their HCPs and the healthcare system.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 purposively sampled patients with a rare cancer. The interview guide included topics related to trust, including level, development, barriers and facilitators, importance, and trust dimensions. Thematic analysis was conducted with use of Atlas.ti.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 50 years, 60% were female, and 70% were highly educated. Three themes were constructed: (1) "Confirmed expertise is a prerequisite of trust." Patients need confirmation of their HCPs' expertise, as it could not be assumed due to the rarity of their cancer; (2) "Trust depends on the adequacy of information and how it is provided." Limited information about rare cancer reduced patients' trust in health care, whereas interpersonal trust was mainly affected by how HCPs provided information; and (3) "Trust is built on properly coordinated and supportive care." Proper organization and cooperation within and between hospitals, and integration of supportive care, enhanced trust.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a rare cancer experience challenges that influence trust in HCPs and the healthcare system. Further research should examine trust among subgroups of patients with a rare cancer, to enable development of tailored interventions.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

HCPs may improve trust by focusing on expertise, effective information provision, proper coordination of care, and provision of adequate supportive care.

Cancer Care Pre-registration Interprofessional Education with Expert Patients: A Qualitative Study

In interprofessional education (IPE) patients with cancer are sometimes recruited to support passive forms of learning but do not seem to have been recruited as expert patients (EPs). The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of patients who acted as EPs in an IPE learning activity in Aotearoa New Zealand. These EPs were completing or had completed receiving radiation therapy as outpatients. Ten EPs were interviewed about their experiences of being interviewed by small interprofessional groups of senior pre-registration students. Four themes were identified: (1) Why EPs decided to take part; (2) EPs' perceptions of the primary purpose of the IPE; (3) EPs' experiences of the interview, and (4) What EPs felt they contributed to student learning or learned about themselves or from students. EPs also made suggestions about how the learning activity could be improved. The study showed EPs felt they had something important to contribute to student learning. They thought the interprofessional nature of the learning activity was uncontentious and took part because they wanted students of all disciplines to learn about what it is like to have cancer and having treatment. The EPs felt the students were well-prepared and professional in their approach. They pointed out the importance of students introducing themselves proficiently and in culturally appropriate ways as this made them relax, open up, and share their experiences and in some cases learn from the students and from themselves. Patients are willing to act as EPs, but selection and approach need careful consideration.

The TTP specialist nurse: an advocate for patients and professionals

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and life-threatening blood disorder with a mortality rate of over 90% if left untreated, multiple long-term complications for survivors, and a lifelong risk of relapse. There is a valuable role for the clinical nurse specialist in both the acute and long-term care of patients with TTP. Historically part of the team caring for patients with TTP, specialist nurses have played a vital role in co-ordinating and facilitating treatment for patients, promoting patient advocacy, supporting continuous service improvement, and delivering education to the wider clinical team to disseminate best practice. In 2021, the TTP specialist nurse role was commissioned within the NHS England National Service Framework for TTP Specialist Centres. This article aims to appraise the role of the TTP specialist nurse and share the multidimensional reach of the role in achieving better outcomes for patients with TTP.

Outcomes of periodontal therapy: Strengthening the relevance of research to patients. A co-created review

Periodontitis is a long-term condition affecting up to half of the population globally and causing significant impacts on life quality. Successful management depends on taking life-long ownership of the condition by those affected. There is a wealth of research to inform on management options. However, most of the research has been designed by professional experts with outcomes to gauge benefits and harms based on parameters that inform on the disease process but which might not be informative to support decision-making in people with lived experience (PWLE) of periodontal ill-health (including both patients and carers). The importance of relevant outcomes is highlighted in the concept of the "expert patient" which aims to strengthen the capacity of PWLE to make health-care choices that are important for them, elements of which are likely to be already familiar to many clinicians delivering periodontal health care. Therefore, the voice and collaboration of PWLE in research are recognised as crucial to developing high quality, relevant evidence especially for long-term conditions. In this paper, we review what is known about the relevance of treatment outcomes to PWLE. We also examine the degree to which PWLE have been involved in identifying outcomes that are important to them as well as the diversity and therefore representativeness of PWLE recruited for studies. We consider why having more relevant outcomes could enhance the expertise of PWLE in managing their periodontitis. We then conclude with key learnings from our review which we hope will encourage more rapid development of these initiatives in periodontology for the benefit of global health and wellbeing.

Knowledge exchange between patient and pharmacist: A mixed methods study to explore the role of pharmacists in patient education and counseling in asthma and pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVES

To better understand the role of pharmacists in patient education and counselling: describe the perception of knowledge exchange (KE) between asthma/pulmonary arterial hypertension patients and pharmacists (hospital/community) according to four dimensions (4C-typology): cure (C1), care (C2); coordination/supply chain (C3), characteristics of the pathophysiology/disease mechanisms (C4); factors correlated with KE.

METHODS

A mixed methods approach was used. Part A: data from semi-structured patient interviews were processed (thematic analysis), and a questionnaire developed. Part B: completed patient questionnaires were processed by correspondence factor analysis.

RESULTS

KE (4C-typology) was correlated with pathology, disease severity, disease duration, age, hospital/community pharmacist. Patients expected pharmacists to provide C2/C3 services. KE with pharmacists covered C1/C2/C3, and with physicians, C1/C2/C4. While patients perceived KE as a means of self-learning to improve self-care skills, the two-way nature meant it provided specific experiential information feedback to pharmacists.

CONCLUSIONS

This 4C-typology provides a holistic framework for optimising the pharmacists' role in education and counselling of patients with chronic diseases.

Meeting the Burden of Self-management: Qualitative Study Investigating the Empowering Behaviors of Patients and Informal Caregivers

Background

Patient empowerment is an important concept and a movement toward person-centered care of patients with chronic conditions. Nevertheless, to date, most research on empowered patients or informal caregivers has been conducted from a narrow clinical perspective. Such research has mainly focused on how health care professionals can empower patients to increase self-care or compliance with treatment. Research on empowered patient and informal caregiver needs and self-empowering activities is scarce.

Objective

We aimed to explore empowering behaviors from a patient and informal caregiver perspective in the context of self-management and to understand how health care can support such behaviors better.

Methods

We used an exploratory, qualitative study design. A total of 15 semistructured interviews and 6 focus group interviews were conducted with 48 patients and informal caregivers. We analyzed the interviews using thematic analysis and used a directed content analysis to analyze the focus group interviews.

Results

A total of 14 patterns of empowering behaviors were identified that were characterized by several exploratory and influencing activities performed by the participants. The participants expressed a desire to be more active in their care than what is expected and supported by health care professionals. The participants also desired better support for activities imposed on them by health care professionals.

Conclusions

To enable a transformation of the health care system to better support self-empowering behaviors, there is a need to develop self-management approaches from a patient and informal caregiver perspective.

Children with a rare congenital genetic disorder: a systematic review of parent experiences

BACKGROUND

Caring for a child with a chronic disease may be demanding and stressful. When a child has a rare condition, the impact of care on parents is amplified due to the rarity of the diagnosis. In order to address the lack of generalized and synthesized knowledge regarding parents' experiences of having a child with a rare genetic disorder, and give a holistic picture of these experiences, a systematic review of the available qualitative research was conducted.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review, including qualitative studies on parents of children with rare genetic disorders, published between 2000 and 2020.

RESULTS

The review included 33 qualitative studies. Findings were synthesized and categorized according to three main themes: Parents' experiences with health care, Responsibilities and challenges, and Factors promoting positive experiences in parents. The findings demonstrate that parents of children with rare genetic disorders share many common challenges, despite evident differences across conditions.

CONCLUSION

Coordinated care, and a more holistic approach in the follow up of children with rare genetic disorders is needed. International collaboration on research, diagnostics, producing scientific correct and understandable information available for health care professionals and lay people should be prioritized.

Factors Contributing to Best Practices for Patient Involvement in Pharmacovigilance in Europe: A Stakeholder Analysis

Introduction

Involving patients in decision making adds value in the context of pharmacovigilance (PV). This added value goes beyond participation in spontaneous reporting systems for adverse drug reactions. However, there is a gap between allowing patients to report and actual patient involvement. Views regarding best practices from regulators, patient organizations and pharmaceutical companies could help increase and improve patient involvement in PV.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors contributing to best practices for patient involvement in PV and to develop a definition of patient involvement based on a qualitative multistakeholder study across Europe.

Methods

A literature review was conducted to map the field of study and obtain insights for the elaboration of an interview guide. Subsequently, patient representatives, members of the pharmaceutical industry and regulators were invited to participate in interviews. These interviews were analyzed using NVIVO^® software and employing reflective thematic analysis.

Results

A total of 20 interviews were conducted with representatives at both the national and European levels. The best practices identified were engagement from the start, face-to-face communication, a full circle of feedback, same-level partners, structured involvement and guidelines, establishing common goals, patient education and empowerment, and developing trust and balance. These activities can be implemented via deep collaboration among stakeholders. A definition of patient involvement was constructed in accordance with the input of all stakeholder groups, which reflects the involvement of all types of patients at all levels of the decision-making process.

Conclusion

In this study, we developed a definition for patient involvement based on qualitative interviews. The factors contributing to best practices for patient involvement were mentioned across stakeholder groups and aimed to stimulate patient involvement in PV. Patients are eager to become equal partners and to engage effortlessly in the same manner as other stakeholders.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40264-022-01222-y.

ANÁLISE DO CONCEITO DE PACIENTE EXPERT SEGUNDO O MODELO DE WALKER E AVANT

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar o conceito de Paciente Expert no modelo de Walker e Avant. Método: análise teórica de conceito realizada em novembro de 2019 em bases de dados nacionais e internacionais com amostra final de 21 estudos, nos quais investigaram-se o país, ano de publicação, área da saúde, participantes, conceito, atributos, antecedentes e consequentes. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados de forma descritiva simples e os qualitativos organizados em figuras. Os conceitos identificados foram processados com apoio do software Interface de R pour Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires. Resultados: destacaram-se o Reino Unido (10, 47,6%); o ano de 2015 (04; 19,1%); a enfermagem como área de conhecimento mais evidenciada (05; 23,8%); e pacientes como participantes (18; 72,0%). A respeito dos elementos teóricos, a autogestão do cuidado (04;19,5%) foi o atributo que mais sobressaiu; evidenciaram-se, ainda, o aumento de pessoas com doenças crônicas (10;18,5%) como antecedente, a integração social/comunitária (14;24,5%) em meio aos consequentes, e os vocábulos patient expert, condition e health mediante o processamento dos conceitos apresentados pelos estudos incluídos na amostra final. Conclusão: a análise conceitual permitiu determinar a origem do conceito Paciente Expert, os diferentes campos de atuação desse sujeito, as habilidades desenvolvidas em prol do autocuidado e o seu real significado, o qual é definido como um indivíduo ativo no seu autocuidado com habilidades necessárias para gerenciar sua condição clínica e auxiliar outros em situação semelhante.

ANALYSIS OF THE EXPERT PATIENT CONCEPT ACCORDING TO WALKER AND AVANT'S MODEL

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the Expert Patient concept in Walker and Avant's model. Method: theoretical concept analysis conducted in November 2019 on national and international databases with a final sample of 21 studies, in which the following data were investigated: country, year of publication, area of knowledge, participants, concept, attributes, antecedents, and consequences. The quantitative data were analyzed in a simple descriptive way and the qualitative data were organized in figures. The concepts identified were processed with the aid of the Interface de R pour Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires software program. Results: the United Kingdom (10; 47.6%) stood out, as well as the year 2015 (04; 19.1%), Nursing as the most evidenced area of knowledge (05; 23.8%), and patients as participants (18; 72.0%). With regard to the basic elements, care self-management (04;19.5%) was the most relevant attribute; in addition, the increase in the number of people with chronic diseases (10;18.5%) and social/community integration (14;24.5%) were evidenced as the most important antecedent and consequence, respectively. Additionally, the terms expert patient, condition and health stood out in the processing of the concepts presented in the studies included in the final sample. Conclusion: concept analysis allowed determining the origin of the Expert Patient concept, the different fields of action of this subject, the self-care skills developed and their actual meaning, which is defined as an individual actively engaged in self-care and with the required skills to manage their clinical condition and help others in a similar situation.

Epistaxis in people with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: surgical management and psychological impact

From the emergency management of acute epistaxis to the surgical procedures for chronic epistaxis, this article covers the options available to control the archetypal symptom of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia while exploring the psychological effect such a disease has on the patient.

Better together: Launching and nurturing a Community Stakeholder Committee to enhance care and research for asthma and COPD

Partnering with patients and community stakeholders to identify, design, undertake, and evaluate research is increasingly common. We describe our experience with creating and developing an ongoing Community Stakeholder Committee to guide lung health research for disease prevention and healthcare improvement. This committee is central to the integrated knowledge translation approach of Legacy for Airway Health, which is dedicated to preventing and improving care for lung diseases. Patient engagement in research (PEIR) aims to improve the relevance, quality, and implementation of research activities. Meaningful patient and community engagement in research remains challenging to implement. The committee was established in October 2019, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and quickly adapted from in-person to virtual engagement activities. This change led to an increased focus on relationship-building and mutual support alongside other research and training activities. We conducted a baseline evaluation survey after one year (October 2020) using a modified version of the Patient Engagement in Research Scale (PEIRS-22). While individual scores suggested varied levels of meaningful engagement within the committee, overall results indicated strong personal relationships and a sense of feeling valued and respected, as well as a desire for increased opportunities to contribute to research within the program. Overall, this experience offers lessons learned about the importance of spending time and effort to build relationships, particularly in a virtual context, and shows that meaningful engagement can be done even when personal contact is limited. These efforts are illustrated in successful grant applications, research involvement, and stronger personal relationships.

Using a theory of change to develop an integrated intervention for depression, diabetes and hypertension in Zimbabwe: lessons from the Friendship Bench project

BACKGROUND

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are projected to become the leading cause of disability and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030; a vast treatment gap exists. There is a dearth of knowledge on developing evidence-based interventions that address comorbid NCDs using a task-shifting approach. The Friendship Bench, a brief psychological intervention for common mental disorders delivered by trained community grandmothers, is a promising intervention for comorbid NCDs. Although task-shifting appears to be a rational approach, evidence suggests that it may bring about tension between existing professionals from whom tasks are shifted. A Theory of Change approach is an effective way of managing the unintended tension by bringing together different stakeholders involved to build consensus on how to task shift appropriately to the parties involved. We aimed to use a theory of change approach to formulating a road map on how to successfully integrate diabetes and hypertension care into the existing Friendship Bench in order to come up with an integrated care package for depression, hypertension and diabetes aimed at strengthening NCD care in primary health care systems in Zimbabwe.

METHOD

A theory of change workshop with 18 stakeholders from diverse backgrounds was carried out in February 2020. Participants included grandmothers working on the Friendship Bench project (n = 4), policymakers from the ministry of health (n = 2), people with lived experience for the three NCDs (n = 4), health care workers (n = 2), and traditional healers (n = 2). Findings from earlier work (situational analysis, desk review, FGDs and clinic-based surveys) on the three NCDs were shared before starting the ToC. A facilitator with previous experience running ToCs led the workshop and facilitated the co-production of the ToC map. Through an iterative process, consensus between the 18 stakeholders was reached, and a causal pathway leading to developing a framework for an intervention was formulated.

RESULTS

The ToC singled out the need to use expert clients (people with lived experience) to promote a patient-centred care approach that would leverage the existing Friendship Bench approach. In the face of COVID-19, the stakeholders further endorsed the use of existing digital platforms, notably WhatsApp, as an alternative way to reach out to clients and provide support. Leveraging existing community support groups as an entry point for people in need of NCD care was highlighted as a win-win by all stakeholders. A final framework for an NCD care package supported by Friendship Bench was presented to policymakers and accepted to be piloted in five geographical areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The ToC can be used to build consensus on how best to use using an existing intervention for common mental disorders to integrate care for diabetes and hypertension. There is a need to evaluate this new intervention through an adequately powered study.

An Integrated Framework to Conceptualize and Develop the Vancouver Airways Health Literacy Tool (VAHLT)

There is currently no comprehensive tool to assess the functional health literacy (HL) skills of chronic airway disease (CAD) patients. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of a new HL measure, the Vancouver Airways Health Literacy Tool (VAHLT). The tool was developed through the following phases: (1) Tool conceptualization, consisting of: (A) a systematic review (SR), (B) focus group sessions with CAD patients to understand barriers and facilitators to CAD management, (C) a survey with key-informants to obtain strategies to mitigate self-management barriers and validate patient-derived topics, and (D) respiratory physicians' review of the topics; (2) Scenario and item development; and (3) Tool testing and content validation. The SR identified the lack of a valid HL measurement tool for CAD patients. Patients provided an initial shortlist of disease-related self-care topics. Key-informants helped to finalize topics for inclusion. Respiratory physicians and patients contributed to the development of a scenario-based questionnaire, which was refined during three rounds of testing to develop a 44-item instrument comprising nine self-management passages. We highlight the holistic process of integrating information from the literature with knowledge gained from key stakeholders into our tool framework. Our approach to stakeholder engagement may be of interest to researchers developing similar tools, and could facilitate the development and testing of HL-based interventions to ultimately improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.

Patients Are Knowledge Workers in the Clinical Information Space

BACKGROUND

Limited research exists on patient knowledge/cognition or "getting inside patients' heads." Because patients possess unique and privileged knowledge, clinicians need this information to make patient-centered and coordinated treatment planning decisions. To achieve patient-centered care, we characterize patient knowledge and contributions to the clinical information space.

METHODS AND OBJECTIVES

In a theoretical overview, we explore the relevance of patient knowledge to care provision, apply historical perspectives of knowledge acquisition to patient knowledge, propose a representation of patient knowledge types across the continuum of care, and include illustrative vignettes about Mr. Jones. We highlight how the field of human factors (a core competency of health informatics) provides a perspective and methods for eliciting and characterizing patient knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Patients play a vital role in the clinical information space by possessing and sharing unique knowledge relevant to the clinical picture. Without a patient's contributions, the clinical picture of the patient is incomplete. A human factors perspective informs patient-centered care and health information technology solutions to support clinical information sharing.

Do candidates for penile implant prefer their doctors or another implanted patient as their information source? Results of a pilot study

INTRODUCTION

Erectile dysfunction incidence is about 19-26 cases for every 1000 men/year, requiring about 20,000 penile implants/year. There is high demand for information on the part of patients, however, there is a lack of evidence about the sources of information prior to penile implant and the figure of the Expert Patient (EP) has never been described in this area.

AIMS

To evaluate the sources of information used by candidates for penile implant as well as to describe the role of the EP as an information source.

METHODS

Pilot study of candidates for penile prosthesis. Patients already implanted attending for exchange or reallocation surgery were excluded. Each patient had an interview with an EP, and commercial documentation was given. Each source of information was evaluated in a face-to-face interview. SPSS™ version 20.0 was used.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The EP was evaluated by the International Index of Erectile Function, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 questionnaire, and the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction. Each source of information was evaluated by a non-validated 6-section questionnaire.

RESULTS

Ten patients were included. Mean age was 60±10.3 years. Medical interview with the urologist resulted in a global value and truthfulness score of 9.2±.9 and 9.8±.4, respectively. Commercial information had a global score of 8.5±.9 and a truthfulness score of 8.6±.6, while the internet had 6.8±.8 points for global value and 7.2±1 for truthfulness. The global score of the EP was 8.7±1.2 points and their veracity scored 9.6±.5 points.

CONCLUSIONS

The urologist remains the main source of information for patients with erectile dysfunction candidates for penile prosthesis implant. However, the EP is an alternative and could be a key pillar in presurgical counselling.

Patients' and healthcare professionals' perceptions of self-management support interactions: Systematic review and qualitative synthesis

Objective To review studies examining the experience of self-management support in patient-provider interactions and the shaping of goals through interactions. Methods We undertook a systematic review and thematic synthesis of the qualitative literature. We searched six databases (2004-2015) for published studies on the provision of self-management support in one-to-one, face-to-face, patient-provider interactions for obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with 14 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Results Themes identified from studies were (1) dominance of a traditional model of care, encompassing the provision of generic information, exclusion of the psychosocial and temporal nature of interactions and (2) a context of individual responsibility and accountability, encompassing self-management as patients' responsibility and adherence, accountability and the attribution of blame. Interactions were constrained by consultation times, patient self-blame and guilt, desire for autonomy and beliefs about what constitutes 'effective' self-management. Discussion Encounters were oriented towards a traditional model of care delivery and this limited opportunity for collaboration. These findings suggest that healthcare professionals remain in a position of authority, limiting opportunities for control to be shared with patients and shared understandings of social context to be developed.

Patient Education Provided by Physiotherapists for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Results of a Scoping Review

Purpose: Physiotherapists have been acknowledged as playing a vital role in the care of people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and this care includes providing patient education (PE). Yet very little is known about the issues critical to providing this PE. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and map out the current knowledge about the content, processes, and overall effectiveness of the PE provided by physiotherapists for people living with COPD. Method: Using the guidelines developed by Arksey and O'Malley in 2005 and by Levac in 2010, key databases were searched. A total of 447 articles were identified and screened for the following inclusion criteria: adults living with COPD, published in English or French between 1995 and 2015, and describing the PE provided by physiotherapists. Fourteen studies matched these criteria. Results: In the majority of studies, both physiotherapists and nurses provided PE to patients. Common PE topics included energy conservation, exacerbations, and breathlessness. None of the studies included measures for evaluating the effectiveness of the PE. Conclusions: Even though physiotherapists routinely provide PE to people living with COPD, this PE varies substantially. The heterogeneity of the studies and lack of measures of effectiveness prevented them from providing any evidence-based recommendations for physiotherapists.

Living with a rare disorder: a systematic review of the qualitative literature

Background

Individuals with rare diseases may face challenges that are different from those experienced in more common medical conditions. A wide range of different rare conditions has resulted in a myriad of studies investigating the specificities of the diagnosis in focus. The shared psychological experiences of individuals with a rare condition, however, have not been reviewed systematically.

Methods

We performed a systematic review, including qualitative studies on adults, published between 2000 and 2016. Papers including more than one rare genetic or nongenetic diagnosis were included. Studies based on single diagnoses were excluded except for four specific conditions: hemophilia (bleeding disorder), phenylketonuria (metabolic disorder), Fabry disease (lysosomal storage disorder), and epidermolysis bullosa (skin disorder).

Results

The review identified 21 studies. Findings were synthesized and categorized according to three main themes: (1) Consequences of living with a rare disorder, (2) Social aspects of living with a rare disorder, and (3) Experiences with the health care system. Findings point to several unique challenges, such as the psychological, medical, and social consequences of a lack of knowledge about the condition in health care and social settings.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the need for more research on the shared psychological and social impact of living with a rare diagnosis across conditions, in order to identify risk factors and inform clinical practice.

Closing the loop in person-centered care: patient experiences of a chronic kidney disease self-management intervention

PURPOSE

The provision of self-management support (SMS) for people with earlier stages (1-4) of chronic kidney disease (CKD) can improve patient outcomes and extend time to dialysis. However, attempts to deliver such support have often not taken patient preferences into account. After the development, implementation, and quantitative evaluation of the person-centered CKD-SMS intervention, the aim of this study was to investigate participant experiences and perceptions of the program, as well as to seek suggestions to improve future SMS attempts.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with almost all (63/66) participants in the CKD-SMS. Deductive categories were derived from previous research into self-management from the CKD patient's perspective, and this was supplemented by categories that emerged inductively during multiple readings of interview transcripts. Content analysis was used to analyze interview data.

RESULTS

Participants recognized self-management of CKD as complex and multifaceted. They felt that the CKD-SMS helped them develop skills to engage in necessary self-management tasks, as well as their knowledge about their condition and confidence to take an active role in their healthcare. These participants experience a healthcare environment that is characterized by complexity and inconsistency, and participation in the intervention helped them to navigate it. The benefit of participating in this research to contribute to the scientific literature was also recognized by participants. Overall, participants found the CKD-SMS useful in its current format, and made some suggestions for future interventions.

CONCLUSION

People with CKD must engage in self-management behavior within a complex health environment. Individualized SMS such as the CKD-SMS provides an opportunity to support patients to manage their health effectively.