Experiences and Needs in the Dietary Management of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Qualitative Study of Patient, Caregiver and Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives

Dietary management is crucial in the disease management of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there is still a lack of research on the genuine experiences and needs of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals involved in CKD dietary management, especially in the Chinese context. To explore the experiences and needs of Chinese patients with CKD, caregivers, and healthcare professionals regarding dietary management. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted to gather data using semi-structured in-depth interviews, with data examined by thematic analysis. A total of 36 participants were involved in the interviews. Five themes were identified in the study: (1) Dilemmas: disease threat perception; (2) Practice divide: obstacles to the implementation of the guide; (3) Disease adaptation: reconstruction of dietary identity; (4) Precision education: demand-driven educational strategies; (5) Multilevel collaboration: building support networks. These findings establish a scientific foundation for policy formulation and enhancements in medical practice. Future research should evaluate the practicality of dietary guidance frameworks and develop intelligent assistive tools to support dietary decision-making, thereby promoting sustainable improvements in patients' dietary management.