The demographic data of the participants consisted of three parts: general information, health information, and family information. Part 1 described the participants' general information, such as gender, age, religion, marital status, education level, occupation, payment scheme, income, smoking, alcohol
consumption, use of technological devices, and use of mobile phone applications.
Part 2 described the health information of the participants, including the current stage of CKD, duration of diagnosis with CKD, body mass index (BMI), serum creatinine, urine protein, urine creatinine, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood sugar,
hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), lipid profile, comorbidities, current antihypertensive medications, and history of hospital admission. Part 3 described the family's general information, including the number of family members, the relative and age of the main caregiver, the family income, and the health of the main caregiver. These demographic characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviations. The differences in demographic characteristics between the experimental and control groups were analyzed by the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and independent t-test statistics as shown in tables 4 to 6.
In the experimental group, 75% of the participants were males. The majority age group was elderly (70%) and the mean age was 63.70 years (SD = 11.63, range 43-87). All participants were Buddhist (100%) and 90% were married. The level of education was lower than a bachelor's degree (80%) among employees, merchants, and business owners (55%). They had incomes < 5,000 baht per month (50%) and used the universal coverage (100%) for their healthcare scheme to access health care.
The majority of them (65%) did not smoke and drank alcohol (55%). Regarding technological devices, they mostly used mobile telephones 5-7 days/week (95%) and used mobile applications 5-7 days/week (60%).
As shown in Table 4, most of the individual characteristics in the control group were like those in the experimental group. Most of them were males (65%).
The major age group was the elderly (75%), with a mean age of 66.25 years (SD = 10, range 47-85). The religion was Buddhism (95%), and they were mostly married (70%). The level of education was lower than a bachelor's degree (95%) for
employees, merchants, and business owners (55%). They had incomes < 5,000 baht per month (50%) and used the universal coverage (100%) for their healthcare scheme to access health care (80%). Most of the participants had never smoked (65%) or drank alcohol (60%). They mostly used a mobile telephone 5-7 days/week (70%) and a mobile application 5-7 days/week (70%).
The information between the experimental and control groups was compared by using an independent t-test for continuous data, a chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests for categorical data to determine their differences. The statistics showed no significant differences in the participants’ general information between the two groups (p >.05). The details are shown in Table 4.
Tables 4 Description of the general information of participants
Characteristics Experimental group (n = 20)
Control group (n = 20)
Test p-value
n % n %
Gender χ2 = .476 .490
Male 15 75 13 65
Female 5 25 7 35
Age (years) χ2 = .125 .723
43-59 6 30 5 25
≥ 60 14 70 15 75
Average 63.70 ± 11.63 66.25 ± 10.00 t = -.744 .462
Range 43-87 47-85
Religion Fisher's
exact = 1.026
1.00
Buddhism 20 100 19 95
Christianity 0 0 1 5
Tables 4 (Continued)
Characteristics Experimental group (n = 20)
Control group (n = 20)
Test p-value
n % n %
Marital status Fisher's exact
= 2.500
.235
Married 18 90 14 70
Single, Separated, and Widow
2 10 6 30
Education Fisher's
exact
= 2.057
.342 <Bachelor's Degree 16 80 19 95
≥Bachelor's Degree 4 20 1 5
Occupation χ2 < .001 1.000
Unemployed 7 35 7 35
Employee, Merchant, Business owner
11 55 11 55
State enterprise, Government officer,
Retired civil servant
2 10 2 10
Income/Month (Baht) χ2 < .001 1.000
< 5,000 10 50 10 50
5,000-50,000 8 40 8 40
> 50,000 2 10 2 10
Payment scheme Fisher's
exact
= .173
1.000
Universal coverage 17 85 16 80
Social insurance, State enterprise, Government welfare
3 15 4 20
Tables 4 (Continued)
Sixty percent of the participants in the experimental group had CKD stage 3b, with a mean duration of CKD diagnosis of 5.75 years (SD = 4.98, range 1–19).
Hypertension was the most common comorbidity disease (40%). There has been no history of hospitalization due to CKD in the previous year (75%). Most of them had overweight (50%) with BMI = 25-29.9 kg/m2, average 25.00 kg/m2 (SD = 2.89, range 18.36–30.51). The high HbA1C of 9.10% (SD = 3.84, range 5–12.60). The normal values of laboratory tests were reported, including serum albumin, hematocrit,
Characteristics Experimental group (n = 20)
Control group (n = 20)
Test p-value
n % n %
Smoking χ2 < .001 1.000
No 13 65 13 65
Yes, ever 7 35 7 35
Alcohol drinking χ2 = .102 .749
No 11 55 12 60
Yes, ever 9 45 8 40
Use of technology device
Mobile phone Fisher's
exact
= 4.329
.091 1-4 days/week 1 5 6 30
5-7 days/week 19 95 14 70
Use of mobile phone application χ2 = 3.636 .057 1-4 days/week 8 40 14 70
5-7 days/week 12 60 6 30
Tablet / iPad Fisher's
exact
= 2.057
.342
Never 19 90 16 80
Ever 1 5 4 20
Computer Fisher's
exact
= .173
1.000
Never 16 80 17 85
Ever 4 20 3 15
hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile. Abnormal laboratory results showed an average serum creatinine of 1.64 mg/dl (SD = 0.32, range 1.04–2.21), urine protein of 49.26 mg/mmol (SD = 141.68, range 4-631).
In the control group, 52.4% were diagnosed with CKD stage 3b. The mean duration of CKD diagnosis was 5.46 years (SD = 5.40, range 0.25-20). Hypertension with dyslipidemia was the most common comorbid disease (30%). No history of hospitalization related to CKD in the past 1 year (80%). Most of them had normal weight (55%) with BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, average 26.94 kg/m2 (SD = 4.54, range 21.54-36.79). The normal values of laboratory tests were reported, including serum albumin, hematocrit, hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, cholesterol, and high- density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Abnormal laboratory results showed the average serum creatinine was 1.47 mg/dl (SD = 0.33, range 0.98–2.11), triglyceride was 158.46 mg/dl (SD = 66.33, range 87–326), and low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (LDL-C) was 101.94 mg/dl (SD = 48.21, range 35-230).
The health information of participants between experimental and control groups in the pre-intervention period was compared using an independent t-test, a chi-squared, and Fisher's exact tests. The result showed no difference, except for triglyceride level where the control group was significantly higher than the experimental group (t = - 2.921, p < .05) (Table 5).
Tables 5 Descriptions of health information of the participants
Characteristics Experimental group (n = 20)
Control group (n = 20)
Test p-value
n % n %
The current stage of CKD χ2 = .102 .749
Stage 3a 8 40 9 45
Stage 3b 12 60 11 55
Tables 5 (Continued)
Characteristics Experimental group (n = 20)
Control group (n = 20)
Test p-value
n % n %
HT χ2 = 1.026 .311
Yes 8 40 5 25
No 12 60 15 75
HT and DM Fisher's
exact
= .229
1.000
Yes 2 10 3 15
No 18 90 17 85
HT and DLP χ2 = .125 .723
Yes 5 25 6 30
No 15 75 14 70
HT and DM and DLP Fisher's
exact
= .360
1.000
Yes 1 5 2 10
No 19 95 18 90
HT and DM and DLP and CVD Fisher's
exact
= 2.105
.487
Yes 0 0 2 10
No 0 0 18 90
History of hospital admission related CKD 1 year ago Fisher's exact
= .143
1.000
No 15 75 16 80
≥ 1 time 5 25 4 20
BMI (kg/m2) χ2 = 4.940 .176
< 18.5 1 5 0 0
18.5-24.9 8 40 11 55
25-29.9 10 50 5 25
≥ 30 1 5 4 20
Average 25.00 ± 2.89 26.94 ± 4.54 t = -1.606 .116
Range 18.36-30.51 21.54- 36.79
Tables 5 (Continued)
Characteristics Experimental group (n = 20)
Control group (n = 20)
Test p-value
M (SD) M (SD)
Duration of diagnosis CKD (years) t = .175 .862
Average 5.75 ± 4.98 5.46 ± 5.40
Range 1-19 0.25-20
Number of antihypertensive drugs t = - 1.085 .285
Average 1.50 ± .76 1.85 ± 1.23
Range 1-3 0-4
Serum creatinine (mg/dl) t = 1.570 .125
Average 1.64 ± 0.32 1.47 ± 0.33
Range 1.04-2.21 0.98-2.11
Serum albumin (mg/dl) t = -1.102 .279
Average 3.71 ± 0.92 3.97 ± 0.40
Range 2-4.60 2.70-4.40
Hematocrit (%) t = -.407 .686
Average 40.09 ± 3.25 40.65 ± 5.28
Range 34.50–48.10 32.70-49.80
Hemoglobin (g/dl)
Average 12.65 ± 1.12 13.10 ± 1.75 t = -.959 .344
Range 10.50-14.80 10.30-16.00
Fasting Blood Sugar (mg/dl) t = -.704 .488
Average 111.30 ± 48.41 123.31 ± 38.19
Range 77-243 84-218
HbA1C (%) t = 1.793 .100
Average 9.10 ± 3.84 6.93 ± 0.93
Range 5-12.60 5.90-8.30
Tables 5 (Continued)
All families in the experimental group had more than two members, with an average of four. The main caregivers of the participants were their husbands or wives (55%), and they were healthy (70%). The majority of primary caregivers were adults (70%), with a mean age of 50.25 years (SD = 14.41, range 20–74). Families had incomes of between 10,001 and 50,000 baht per month (40%).
For the control group, most families had a family member more than two people (85%), with an average of four. The main caregivers of the participants were their husbands or wives (60%), and healthy (60%). The main caregiver's age was reported to be adult (65%), with a mean age of 53.10 years (SD = 14.45, range 26–
73). They had an income of between 10,001 and 50,000 baht per month (55%). The general information of family members between experimental and control groups in the pre-intervention period was compared with an independent t-test and a chi- squared test. There were no significant differences in general information of family members between the two groups (p > .05). The details are shown in Table 6.
Characteristics Experimental group (n = 20)
Control group (n = 20)
Test p-value
M (SD) M (SD)
Total cholesterol (mg/dl) t = .477 .641
Average 169.71 ± 43.38 159.44 ± 42.25
Range 138-258 71-206
Triglycerides (mg/dl) t = -2.921 .007*
Average 97.23 ± 36.23 158.46 ± 66.33
Range 49-161 87-326
LDL-C (mg/dl) t = .292 .772
Average 97.60 ± 33.32 101.94 ± 48.21
Range 59-194 35-230
HDL-C (mg/dl) t = .959 .366
Average 53.00 ± 21.21 41.25 ± 14.51
Range 38-68 14-59
Tables 6 Descriptions of the general information of family members
Characteristics Experimental group (n = 20)
Control group (n = 20)
Test p-value
n % n %
Number of family members Fisher's
exact = 3.243
.231
1-2 0 0 3 15
> 2 20 100 17 85
Average 3.80 ± 1.32 3.95 ± 1.54 t = -.331 .743
Range 2-7 2-8
Main caregiver χ2 = .102 .749
Husband or Wife 11 55 12 60
Child or Grandchild 9 45 8 40
Age of main caregiver (years) χ2 = .114 .736
20-59 14 70 13 65
≥ 60 6 30 7 35
Average 50.25 ± 14.41 53.10 ± 14.45 t = -.625 .536
Range 20-74 26-73
Health of main caregiver χ2 = .440 .507
Healthy 14 70 12 60
Having illness 6 30 8 40
Family income/Month (Baht) χ2 = .918 .632
≤ 10,000 7 35 5 25
10,001-50,000 8 40 11 55
> 50,000 5 25 4 20