Early-Stadium Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Experiences of Self Management on A Cultural perspective: A Qualitative Study

Background: self-management is the gold standard of care for early CKD patients which is useful for preventing complications and slowing down the decline in kidney function. The experience of early CKD patients in carrying out self-management is very important to improve the ability, independence and right decision making in carrying out self-management. This study aimed to explore the self-management experience in adults diagnosed early chronic kidney disease in culture perspective of Javanes. Method: this study is a qualitative with a phenomenological approach, using semi-structured in-depth interviews with 27 adult patients diagnosed with early stage 1-3 chronic kidney disease. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with the Colaizzi analysis method. Results: the results of the analysis reveal the experiences of early chronic kidney disease patients with self-management, consist of 4 main themes: 1) family support in self-management, 2) Care decision making with family, 3) unhealty eating habit, and 4) using traditional medicine in kidney health maintenance. Conclusion: the results of the study concluded that the Javanese culture that is in line with self-management in early chronic kidney disease patients is family relationships and traditional medicine. Family relationships in Javanese culture has high philosophical values and supports health care. Traditional medicine is also still the choice of early chronic kidney disease patients with Javanese ethnicity in carrying out self-management. This study recommends the need for nursing interventions that are tailored to the patient’s culture by integrating family care practices and traditional medicine to improve self-management in early chronic kidney disease patients.