Effects of a Self-Management Program on Slowing the Progression of Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease in the Primary Care Network of Mueang Chi Health Promoting Hospital, Mueang Lamphun District, Lamphun Province, Thailand

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study employed a one-group pretest–posttest design to compare the mean knowledge scores, self-management behavior scores, and estimated glomerular filtration rate of patients with stage 3 chronic kidney disease before and after participation in a self-management program. The sample consisted of 40 patients with stage 3 CKD and comorbid diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension who received care at the chronic disease clinic of the Primary Care Network, Mueang Chi Health Promoting Hospital, Lamphun Province, Thailand. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. The research intervention was a self-management program developed based on the Self-Management Concepts of Kanfer and Gaelick-Buys integrated with the 5A Behavior Change Model for Self-Management Support. Data collection instruments included a CKD knowledge questionnaire and a self-management behavior assessment questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and pretest–posttest comparisons were performed using the paired t-test.

The results showed that after participating in the self-management program, the participants’ mean knowledge score significantly increased from 19.85 (S.D. = 2.49) to 21.90 (S.D. = 2.59), and the mean self-management behavior score significantly increased from 68.72 (S.D. = 14.91) to 77.60 (S.D. = 7.79) (p-value < 0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was found in the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before and after participation in the program (p-value = 0.14). These findings indicate that the self-management program effectively improved knowledge and self-management behaviors among patients with stage 3 CKD. Although no significant change in eGFR was observed during the 12-week intervention period, the program may serve as a useful approach for enhancing nursing services and chronic kidney disease management in primary care settings by promoting patients’ self-management capabilities.