Patient Activation: The Cornerstone of Effective Self-Management in Chronic Kidney Disease?

Abstract

The importance of patient activation (i.e., the knowledge, skills, and confidence one has in managing one’s own healthcare) in people with long-term conditions, including kidney disease, is growing. Enabling and empowering patients to take a more active role in their health and healthcare is the focus of person-centred care. Patient activation is recognised as a key construct of self-management, as to effectively self-manage a long-term condition, it is required to enable individuals to actively participate in treatment decisions, prevent complications, and manage risk factors. Identifying an individual’s level of activation can help guide and tailor care, and interventions aimed at increasing patient activation may improve patient engagement and health outcomes. In this review, we explore the concepts of patient activation and self-management, the relationship between patient activation and self-management, interventions aimed at improving these, and what these mean to people living with kidney disease.