Samenvatting

Maintaining a proper lifestyle is important for chronic kidney disease patients. This study investigates whether an online lifestyle diary supplementary to the support received in the outpatient clinic can help patients to get to such a lifestyle. A total of 33 participants expressed their willingness to participate in the study. However, 11 of them did not start actually. The remaining 22 participants used an online lifestyle diary. They received limited support regarding practical issues and feedback on lifestyle issues only when they asked explicitly. Questionnaires were used to determine the change in self-efficacy and self-management with regard to lifestyle after four months. Only five participants used the website successfully. They had already developed a good self-efficacy and self-management. A disappointingly large group hardly used the website. The effectiveness of using the website regarding self-efficacy and self-management was therefore limited in this particular situation. Insights of the outpatient clinic’s caregivers and information from the participants partly clarify the factors involved in lifestyle management and coaching. Motivation of the participant appears to be an important factor as well as setting realistic goals. If a patient were to receive feedback on lifestyle issues regularly while working with the website, more satisfactory results might be obtained. Finally, the participant’s (computer) skills and practical support played an important role. Taking these factors into account, the already comprehensive task of lifestyle coaching would be extended with specific new tasks, requiring the necessary skills and motivation of the caregiver.