Objective:To clarify the complex network structure between self-management levels and supportive care needs of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, utilizing network analysis methods to identify the core and bridging nodes among the variables, thereby defining targets for nursing interventions to implement more precise care strategies.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to November 2023 among 302 outpatient maintenance hemodialysis patients at the hemodialysis centers of two healthcare institutions in Harbin (the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University and Heilongjiang Changjiang Nephrology Specialist Hospital). This involved the use of general information questionnaires, the Hemodialysis Patient Self-Management Scale, and the Supportive Care Needs Scale for Hemodialysis Patients. R language was employed for the network analysis.Results:A total of 300 valid questionnaires were collected, including 186 males and 114 females, with an age range of 23 to 88 years (mean age 55.00 ± 13.78 years). The scores for the dimensions of self-management among dialysis patients were as follows: problem-solving (3.38 ± 0.63), execution of self-care (3.16 ± 0.52), partnership (2.56 ± 0.69), and emotional processing (1.89 ± 0.63). The scores for the dimensions of supportive care needs among dialysis patients were: physiological needs (2.82 ± 1.08), psychological needs (1.51 ± 1.02), social needs (1.97 ± 1.07), emotional needs (1.67 ± 1.12), spiritual needs (2.22 ± 0.77), informational needs (2.83 ± 1.08), and practical needs (2.82 ± 1.03). In network analysis, the strongest intensity was found in the execution of self-care (1.753), and the highest closeness was in psychological needs (0.017). The top three dimensions ranked by bridge strength were social needs (1.463), partnership (1.462), and execution of self-care (1.384). The root mean square error was lowest for psychological needs (0.518) and emotional needs (0.538). The stability and accuracy of the network structure were found to be good.Conclusions:The key intervention targets for nursing care in maintenance hemodialysis patients were identified as executing self-care, psychological needs, emotional needs, and social needs. Among these, executing self-care served as the core intervention focus, while psychological and emotional needs had dominant influences, and social needs exhibited the strongest bridging role. Nursing staff should prioritize these key targets and tailor personalized comprehensive nursing intervention plans to enhance patients′self-management levels and fully meet their care needs.

Objective:To clarify the complex network structure between self-management levels and supportive care needs of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, utilizing network analysis methods to identify the core and bridging nodes among the variables, thereby defining targets for nursing interventions to implement more precise care strategies.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to November 2023 among 302 outpatient maintenance hemodialysis patients at the hemodialysis centers of two healthcare institutions in Harbin (the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University and Heilongjiang Changjiang Nephrology Specialist Hospital). This involved the use of general information questionnaires, the Hemodialysis Patient Self-Management Scale, and the Supportive Care Needs Scale for Hemodialysis Patients. R language was employed for the network analysis.Results:A total of 300 valid questionnaires were collected, including 186 males and 114 females, with an age range of 23 to 88 years (mean age 55.00 ± 13.78 years). The scores for the dimensions of self-management among dialysis patients were as follows: problem-solving (3.38 ± 0.63), execution of self-care (3.16 ± 0.52), partnership (2.56 ± 0.69), and emotional processing (1.89 ± 0.63). The scores for the dimensions of supportive care needs among dialysis patients were: physiological needs (2.82 ± 1.08), psychological needs (1.51 ± 1.02), social needs (1.97 ± 1.07), emotional needs (1.67 ± 1.12), spiritual needs (2.22 ± 0.77), informational needs (2.83 ± 1.08), and practical needs (2.82 ± 1.03). In network analysis, the strongest intensity was found in the execution of self-care (1.753), and the highest closeness was in psychological needs (0.017). The top three dimensions ranked by bridge strength were social needs (1.463), partnership (1.462), and execution of self-care (1.384). The root mean square error was lowest for psychological needs (0.518) and emotional needs (0.538). The stability and accuracy of the network structure were found to be good.Conclusions:The key intervention targets for nursing care in maintenance hemodialysis patients were identified as executing self-care, psychological needs, emotional needs, and social needs. Among these, executing self-care served as the core intervention focus, while psychological and emotional needs had dominant influences, and social needs exhibited the strongest bridging role. Nursing staff should prioritize these key targets and tailor personalized comprehensive nursing intervention plans to enhance patients′self-management levels and fully meet their care needs.