Effects of a temporal self-regulation theory-based intervention on self-management in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effects of a temporal self-regulation theory-based intervention on self-management in hemodialysis patients. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out in Lanzhou, China. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 42) or control group (n = 42). The outcomes of self-management level, interdialytic weight gain, serum potassium and serum phosphorus were collected at baseline (T0), 1 month after intervention (T1), and 2 months after follow-up (T2). Results: After intervention and follow-up, the self-management score of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group, while the interdialytic weight gain, serum potassium, and serum phosphorus were significantly lower. The group and time interaction effects revealed that participants in the intervention group exhibited significantly greater improvement in self-management at T1 and T2. Interdialytic weight gain decreased significantly at T2. Serum potassium levels did not differ significantly at T1 or T2. The changes in serum phosphorus were both significant at T1 and T2. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the temporal self-regulation theory-based intervention was effective in improving hemodialysis patients' self-management. Practice implications: The findings suggest popularizing and applying this intervention in the clinic to maintain the long-term effectiveness of the intervention effect.