Person-centred care identifies the need to understand what matters to an individual, as opposed to what is the matter with them. Although digital technologies are increasingly used to support haemodialysis self-management, little is known about how the experiences of those receiving haemodialysis treatment can inform the design of meaningful and acceptable digital interventions. This study explored the adults’ experiences of haemodialysis treatment and self-management to inform the development of future digital self-management interventions. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling. Twenty-one participants undergoing haemodialysis aged 21 years and above were recruited from three dialysis centres in Singapore. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted until information redundancy was achieved. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. The participants’ mean age was 55.5 ± 10.6 years, and mean dialysis vintage was 9.4 ± 9.1 years. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) Life interrupted by the burdens of haemodialysis; (2) Finding a new normal through adaptation and support; (3) Balancing everyday life with the demands of self-management; and (4) Embracing digital support with hope and hesitation. Participants described haemodialysis treatment as an ongoing disruption that reshaped their daily lives and required continual adaptation to the demands of self-management. Digital technologies were viewed as a promising source of support when responsive to individuals’ needs and preferences. These findings provide person-informed design considerations for developing more responsive, personalised digital self-management interventions. Ethical approval was obtained from the National University of Singapore Institutional Review Board (IRB) (Reference Code: NUS-IRB-2024-185). COREQ checklist.
