Digital symptom management interventions for people with chronic kidney disease: a scoping review based on the UK Medical Research Council Framework

BackgroundChronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a growing global health issue with a complex symptom phenotype. It negatively impacts patients' health-related quality of life and increases healthcare utilization. While digital health interventions offer promising avenues for improving symptom management in CKD, understanding their development, validation, and effectiveness is crucial for clinical application.ObjectiveTo comprehensively map the existing literature on digital health interventions designed to manage symptoms in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), using the UK Medical Research Council's complex intervention framework as a guiding lens. This scoping review aims to: (1) catalogue digital health interventions utilized in CKD symptom management; (2) detail the range of outcome measures assessing intervention effectiveness, including clinical efficacy, patient adherence, and quality of life; (3) examine the methodologies and frameworks employed in the creation of these interventions; (4) assess the pilot testing and effectiveness evaluations; and (5) categorize and analyze the barriers to implementation.MethodsA scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and others, covering literature up to December 2023. Studies were selected based on predefined eligibility criteria for digital health interventions for CKD symptom management.ResultsThe search yielded 31 studies, with a mix of development and validation studies, predominantly from developed countries. The review highlights the potential of digital interventions in enhancing symptom management, quality of life, and patient engagement in CKD care. However, gaps were identified as follows: (1) Iterative refinement cycles involving multidisciplinary stakeholders enhanced intervention acceptability and usability should be guaranteed, (2) Theory-driven and evidence-based approaches were underutilized in current intervention development, (3) Long-term implementation outcomes and process evaluations were rarely assessed. This review maps an evolving landscape where digital health interventions offer patient-centric solutions for CKD symptom management while highlighting opportunities for methodological advancements.ConclusionDigital health interventions hold promise for improving symptom management in CKD, yet more research is needed to overcome current limitations and fully realize their potential. Future studies should focus on patient-centred designs, comprehensive validation processes, exploring the underlying mechanism using process evaluation and the integration of these technologies into routine clinical practice.