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Goal: To explore, describe, and stimulate interest in the self-management experiences of patients with mild to moderate CKD.

Objectives:

Describe the methods used in a study to elicit perceptions of health, kidney disease, illness management, and support needed for self-management.
Summarize the overall responses from patients asked about their health, disease, and ability to self-manage their care.
Relate needs for further studies to determine the perceptions of patients about the need for management of their health.

Sources of support: Lucia Costantini was supported by the Kidney Foundation of Canada Allied Health Scholarship. Funding for this study was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), New Emerging Team Grant Program and Ryerson University Faculty of Community Services.

Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank the research assistants, Archna Patel and Talia Aghagulian, for their help with data collection.

Note: The authors reported no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this continuing nursing education article.

Lucia Costantini PhD MN, RN CNeph©

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