Effectiveness of HD-Self Management (Hd-SEMA) Application on Self-Care Among Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Objective: Self-care is a critical component of self-management in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Management education using Android-based mobile technology can enhance self-care practices in HD patients. The HD-SEMA application aims to assist new HD patients and improve the self-care capabilities of long-term HD patients.

Method: This study investigated the impact of the HD-SEMA application on self-care in HD patients using a repeated-measurement quasi-experimental two-group pretest-posttest design conducted in West Java. The study included 60 respondents, divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received training sessions twice weekly for 30–40 minutes over four weeks, totaling eight sessions. The control group followed standard hospital practices. The Self-Care CKD Index Questionnaire was used as the research instrument.

Results: In the intervention group, pre-test mean scores for self-maintenance, self-management, and self-confidence were 18.17 (SD = 2.605), 12.60 (SD = 1.694), and 23.27 (SD = 4.008), respectively. Post-test mean scores improved to 19.67 (SD = 2.339) for self-maintenance, 13.87 (SD = 1.526) for self-management, and 25.63 (SD = 2.189) for self-confidence. A significant improvement was observed within the intervention group (p-value = 0.000, p < 0.05) and between the intervention and control groups (p-value = 0.000, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The HD-SEMA application demonstrated significant potential in enhancing self-care behaviors among HD patients. Its effectiveness is influenced by factors such as usability, patient engagement, and the inclusion of features tailored to the specific needs of HD patients.