On the self-management ability of peritoneal dialysis patients: a cross-sectional study with a mixed approach

To understand the current status and influencing factors of self-management ability in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

This study employed an interpretive sequential mixed-methods approach and followed the STROBE and CONDITION guidelines. From June 2024 to February 2025, convenience sampling was used to survey 507 PD patients from three tertiary hospitals. Quantitative data were collected using five scales. Concurrently, purpose sampling was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 13 patients until data saturation was reached. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically using Nvivo15. The results were integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding.

The quantitative results showed that PD patients had a self-management ability score of [55.00 (45.00, 60.00)] out of a possible 96, indicating a moderately low level. Multiple linear regression identified age, educational attainment, monthly household income, dialysis age, understanding of the disease, mastery of health education content, frequency of follow-up, and self-efficacy as significant influencing factors. The qualitative interviews identified two themes (obstructive and promoting factors) and nine sub-themes. The integration of results showed that qualitative findings confirmed and complemented the quantitative associations.

The self-management ability of PD patients is moderately low. Medical staff should enhance the self-efficacy and social support of PD patients based on the influencing factors of their self-management ability, increase the frequency of follow-up, pay attention to PD patients with low education, advanced age and other types, strengthen training and monitoring for complications, and carry out targeted intervention to improve the self-management ability of PD patients.