Adults living with kidney failure are receptive to using mobile devices to help with their care, according to a study published the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Mobile health can provide many benefits for patients, especially for those whose care is complicated and who have dietary restrictions. Whether people on dialysis are ready to incorporate mobile technology into their care would be a limiting factor. “Importantly, mobile technology has been used to improve treatment adherence; address patient-reported symptoms in real time; improve nutrition, activity and mental health; assist in empowering patients to reverse the predominantly one-way care delivery system, and place the patient at the center of their own health care,” said the lead author. Among 949 dialysis patients surveyed for the study, approximately 80% owned smartphones or other Internetcapable devices, such as tablets. About 72% said they use the Internet, and 70% had intermediate or advanced proficiency in mobile health. The main reasons for using mobile health were making appointments, communicating with healthcare personnel, and obtaining lab results. The main concerns with mobile health were privacy and security. Older patients, those who were Hispanic, and those with less than a college education were less adept with mobile health, while employment was associated with higher proficiency. “Mobile health can be utilized to bring a number of interventions that can help people on dialysis manage their health and improve independence,” said the lead author, adding the findings should encourage healthcare providers and tech developers to invest in mobile health innovations.
