Background: Self-management models can be a very powerful resource in the health system provided they are well tailored to a particular disease and setting. Patient outcomes have been demonstrated to improve when self-management practices are embedded in the care of people with certain diseases. However, it remains unclear whether self-management models and specific components of these programmes can be implemented in order to effectively improve the care of people with diabetes and/or chronic kidney disease.
Methods/design: Medline (including Medline in-process), Excerpta medica database (EMBASE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) and all evidence-based medicine (EBM) will be systematically searched for randomised controlled studies comparing self-management models with usual care in patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Two reviewers will independently assess articles for eligibility: extract data, evaluate risk of bias and complete quality assessment of included studies. The data will be tabulated and narratively synthesised. Meta-analyses will be performed if there is sufficient homogenous data.
Discussion: This protocol utilises rigorous methodology as well as pre-specified eligibility criteria to comprehensively search for diabetes and kidney disease self-management models which have been compared with usual care in randomised controlled trials. The review is likely to provide insight into the effectiveness of current models for improving patient self-management, and this may address the key translational issue of how to integrate and tailor these self-management practices for patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42015017316.