Project Summary
My Kidneys My Health is an evidence-based website co-designed by the Self-Management project team with patients to support self-management for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The tool empowers users to learn about CKD, communicate more effectively with their care teams, and make informed health decisions. The project team is now adapting the website to better meet the needs of diverse populations—including Indigenous, gender-diverse, and ethnically diverse communities—and exploring the integration of peer support to enhance connection and accessibility.
Why This Work Matters
People living with non-dialysis CKD need personalized, culturally relevant tools to manage their health. Many face barriers to effective self-management, which can lead to poor outcomes and increased burden on the health system.
My Kidneys My Health provides trusted, evidence-based information and practical strategies—already supporting 16,000+ users around the world. By co-developing new content with underrepresented communities, the project promotes equity, improves access, and strengthens support networks through patient-informed digital health tools.
Project Objectives
- Enhance the My Kidneys My Health website to better meet the self-management needs of people with non-dialysis CKD.
- Co-develop culturally relevant content with patient and community partners from Indigenous, gender-diverse, and racialized communities.
- Expand and promote the use of My Kidneys My Health as a person-centered education tool among patients and health care providers in primary care and nephrology settings.
- Integrate peer support options to encourage ongoing patient engagement and knowledge sharing.
- Evaluate the effectiveness, accessibility, and cultural relevance of the enhanced website and peer support features.
Recent Activities & Progress
- Completed patient engagement and community partner sessions to inform adaptations for Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
- Developed culturally relevant sexual health and peer support content, with patient and provider review underway.
- Designed implementation strategy and promotional materials for scale-up to new health care settings.
- Submitted an implementation grant and engaged primary care and nephrology providers to support integration into practice.
- Completed usability testing for new website content, with evaluation report expected by end of Year 3.
Self-Management: Adapting an eHealth intervention, My Kidneys My Health, to meet the needs of diverse populations with CKD in Canada
Project lead(s):
- Dr. Mo Donald, Professor and Implementation Scientist (Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary)
- Dr. Meghan Elliott, Professor and Nephrologist (Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary)
Patient lead(s):
- Dwight Sparkes (Newfoundland)
Research theme(s):
Self-Management
Project Video
Visual Abstract
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Project Newsletters
Publications
American Journal of Kidney Disease
Elliott, Meghan J.; Harrison, Tyrone G.; Love, Shannan; Ronksley, Paul E.; Verdin, Nancy; Sparkes, Dwight; O’Connor, Caitrin; Manns, Kate; Jassemi, Sabrina; Hemmelgarn, Brenda R.; Donald, Maoliosa
Research Project: Self-Management
Keywords: Peer Support Interventions
Priorities for peer support delivery among adults living with chronic kidney disease: a patient-oriented consensus workshop
CMAJ Open
Elliott MJ, Donald M, Farragher J, Verdin N, Love S, Manns K, Baragar B, Sparkes D, Fox D, Hemmelgarn BR
Research Project: Self-Management
Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease, Self-Management, Peer Support
Preferences for a self-management e-health tool for patients with chronic kidney disease: results of a patient-oriented consensus workshop
CMAJ Open
Donald M, Beanlands H, Straus S, Ronksley P, Tam-Tham H, Finlay J, Smekal M, Elliott MJ, Farragher J, Herrington G, Harwood L, Large CA, Large CL, Waldvogel B, Delgado ML, Sparkes D, Tong A, Grill A, Novak M, James MT, Brimble KS, Samuel S, Tu K, Hemmelgarn BR
Research Project: Self-Management
Keywords: Self-Management, Patient-Centred Care
Identifying Needs for Self-management Interventions for Adults With CKD and Their Caregivers: A Qualitative Study
American Journal of Kidney Diseases
Donald M, Beanlands H, Straus S, Ronksley P, Tam-Tham H, Finlay J, MacKay J, Elliott M, Herrington G, Harwood L, Large CA, Large CL, Waldvogel B, Sparkes D, Delgado M, Tong A, Grill A, Novak M, James MT, Brimble KS, Samuel S, Hemmelgarn BR
Research Project: Self-Management
Keywords: Self-Management, Patient-Centred Care
Understanding Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease and Their Caregivers’ Self-Management Experiences: A Qualitative Study Using the Theoretical Domains Framework
Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease
Baay S, Hemmelgarn B, Tam-Tham H, Finlay J, Elliott MJ, Straus S, Beanlands H, Herrington G, Donald M
Research Project: Self-Management
Keywords: Self-Management
JMIR Formative Research
Donald M, Beanlands H, Straus SE, Smekal M, Gil S, Elliott MJ, Herrington G, Harwood L, Waldvogel B, Delgado M, Sparkes D, Tong A, Grill A, Novak M, James MT, Brimble KS, Samuel S, Tu K, Farragher J, Hemmelgarn BR.
Research Project: Self-Management
Keywords: Self-Management, Patient Engagement
An eHealth self-management intervention for adults with chronic kidney disease, My Kidneys My Health: a mixed-methods study
CMAJ Open
Donald M, Beanlands H, Straus S, Smekal M, Gil S, Elliott MJ, Harwood L, Waldvogel B, Delgado M, Sparkes D, Tong A, Grill A, Novak M, James MT, Brimble KS, Tu K, Hemmelgarn BR
Research Project: Self-Management
Keywords: Self-Management, Patient-Reported Outcome Measures
Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease
Smekal M, Gil S, Donald M, Beanlands H, Straus S, Herrington G, Sparkes D, Harwood L, Tong A, Grill A, Tu K, Waldvogel B, Large C, Large C, Novak M, James M, Elliott M, Delgado M, Brimble S, Samuel S, Hemmelgarn BR.
Research Project: Self-Management
Keywords: Chronic Kidney Disease, Self-Management
Development and Preliminary Psychometric Testing of an Adult Chronic Kidney Disease Self-Management (CKD-SM) Questionnaire
Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease
Smekal MD, Donald M, Beanlands H, Straus S, Herrington G, Waldvogel B, Sparkes D, Delgado M, Bello A, Hemmelgarn BR
Research Project: Self-Management
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