Digital Self-Management Application for Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: Effects on Health Awareness and Frailty

Background Digital health interventions are increasingly used to support self-management in patients with chronic diseases; however, their impact on patient-centered outcomes, including health awareness and frailty, in maintenance hemodialysis populations remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate the multidimensional effects of a digital self-management application on clinical and patient-reported outcomes. Methods This prospective observational study included 12 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. A digital self-management application was introduced for 3 months to support daily health monitoring. The application combined automatic data collection (physical activity) and patient-reported inputs (vital signs, weekly health status, and behavioral tracking). Clinical parameters, health consciousness, eHealth literacy–related behaviors, and frailty assessed by the Kihon Checklist were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention. Results The mean age of participants was 65.4 ± 6.4 years, and the mean dialysis duration was 5.9 ± 8.1 years. Hemoglobin levels significantly increased from 10.8 ± 1.0 g/dL to 11.8 ± 1.0 g/dL (p = 0.02), while other clinical parameters showed no significant changes. The total Health Consciousness Scale score significantly decreased from 36.5 ± 7.7 to 31.8 ± 7.8 (p < 0.05), indicating changes in health-related perceptions and attitudes. Frailty scores showed a reduction from 6.8 ± 4.2 to 5.4 ± 1.3, suggesting a trend toward improvement (p = 0.06), with the greatest improvement observed in depressive symptoms. Conclusions A digital self-management application may influence both clinical indicators and patient-centered outcomes, particularly health awareness and psychological aspects of frailty, in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. These findings suggest that digital interventions may enhance patient engagement and support a shift toward patient-centered dialysis care, warranting further investigation in larger studies.