PD-Buddy: A Feasibility Study of Mobile Health to Support the Management of Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

People experiencing peritoneal dialysis (PD) are expected to document considerable clinical information at home, yet timely and accurate data collection, and sharing of data with their health team is associated with challenges. Mobile health technologies present an opportunity to bridge home and hospital care. PD-Buddy is a novel smartphone and web-based platform which guides people experiencing PD through their dialysis treatment. The platform was tested in a feasibility study with (n=33) people attending a Peritoneal Dialysis Clinic in Brisbane, Australia. The study evaluated adoption and satisfaction of the system among users (patients and clinicians), as well as infection rates. Findings indicate PD-Buddy to be a user-friendly solution that could expand access to, and improve, the quality of healthcare for people experiencing PD. It could reduce burdens for regional and remote populations, such as travelling to receive specialty care, and improve monitoring, timeliness, and communications with and within their care teams.