Effects of Selfmonitoring on Outcome of Chronic Kidney Disease.

The purpose of the current study is to develop, test, and evaluate a self-management care model regarding CKD patients’ salt intake in order to enhance health outcomes and autonomy. For this purpose, a multicenter open randomized controlled trial will be conducted. We will randomize 150 CKD patients having a systolic blood pressure above the target value of 140 mm Hg despite antihypertensive treatment to one of the two study conditions for three months:

1. A control condition in which patients receive care as usual and the possibility to home blood pressure measurement (HBPM);

2. An intervention condition in which above this patients self-measure their sodium levels and keep a diary about their salt intake. This is embedded in a nurse-led self-management approach in which patients receive motivational interviewing to set and obtain appropriate goals. Furthermore, tailored behavioral modules will be available.

At the end of the study we will analyze baseline and follow-up data (3 months and 6 months) to determine whether the intervention condition was superior to the usual care condition regarding primary and secondary outcomes. In this study, we will not only reveal potential effects of the intervention: In the preparation and evaluation process in-depth knowledge will be obtained about patients’ CKD beliefs, needs and self-perceived skills regarding self-management and how these compare to attitudes of health care workers. Finally, we will develop a set of recommendations about implementation of self-management for CKD patients.

The intervention, optimal selfmanagement conditions for applying to saltrestriction, improves treatment of hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease.

1st year: Literature study, focus group interviews, fine tuning design, training motivational interviewing, preparing RCT, pilot logistics, fine-tuning design, finalizing baseline questionnaire;

2nd year: Recruitment of patients, recording baseline data, start intervention;

3rd year: Follow up measures (at 3 months and 6 months), start analyzing data;

4rd year: Analyzing data and reporting findings.

Two-arm multicenter open randomized controlled trial. Intervention period of 3 months, follow-up 6 months.

Control and intervention group: All patients are informed about a sodium (salt) restricted diet (< 5 grams salt/day) and instructed how to achieve this. All patients are instructed in home blood pressure measurement and provided with a validated blood pressure measurement device.



Intervention group: In addition to the general procedure, patients in the intervention group receive instructions and materials for self monitoring of the sodium intake. This is established by measuring sodium in their 24 hour urine (Medimate Multireader) and by monitoring their salt intake by dietary diaries. In addition to this they receive nurse-led self-regulation assistance.