The chronic disease self-management program--A pilot study in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

A strong emphasis on self-management for health maintenance in a variety of chronic diseases has been shown to benefit patients' outcomes and quality of life. However, little has been published on such programs in patients with chronic kidney disease. We studied the feasibility and effectiveness of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) in 14 patients with ESRD undergoing conventional hemodialysis. This program is designed to enhance skills in the areas of medical, emotional, and role management. Outcome measures in health status, self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, and health care utilization were evaluated through use of questionnaires at baseline and after six months.