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Self-management trials in hemodialysis revealed key gaps and new priorities, spotlighting overlooked areas like infection control and stress management.  

The study published in the June 2025 issue of BMC Nephrology indicated that self-management was important to lower health risks in individuals on hemodialysis, but many showed poor adherence, highlighting the need for improved support through targeted interventions.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to summarize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) on self-management interventions for individuals on hemodialysis, including outcomes, measurement tools, and key components addressed.  

They searched across 6 databases (MedLine All, Emcare, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane), targeting RCTs involving hemodialysis individuals. The studies that focused on either self-management theories or self-management support interventions were included and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. The data was compiled in tabular form and applied content analysis based on the self-management framework.  

The results showed that 14 articles from 8 countries including QoL, Self-management, and self-efficacy as the most frequently reported outcomes. The instrument most commonly applied was Strategies used by people to promote health to assess self-care self-efficacy. All studies reported significant effects of the interventions. The content analysis highlighted frequently addressed components such as emotion regulation, medication adherence, and diet management while identifying underrepresented infection control, absent smoking cessation, and new stress management elements within self-management interventions.  

Investigators concluded that self-management interventions in hemodialysis care revealed key outcome measures and gaps, offering direction for future strategies to support daily disease management. 

Source: bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12882-025-04229-6