Lived experiences and expectations of postkidney transplant patients: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Background: Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for most of the patients with end-stage renal disease. Transplantation brings many responsibilities related to medication adherence, immunosuppression, prevention of infection, regular follow-ups, etc. To meet the challenges faced by postkidney transplant patients, there is a need for deeper understanding of how people with kidney transplant learn to adapt to life posttransplant. Aim: The present study aims to explore the lived experiences of postkidney transplant patients. Materials and Methods: A phenomenological research design was adopted. By using purposive sampling technique, 18 postkidney transplant patients were enrolled. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and analyzed by using descriptive statistics for quantitative and Colaizzi's method for qualitative data. Results: Based on participants' responses, total 9 themes and 26 subthemes were extracted after data analysis. The main themes emerged were as follows: relief from dialysis-associated problems, perceived social neglect before and after transplant, burden of posttransplant regimen, impact on occupation, attitude toward donor, posttransplant lifestyle modifications, concerns about future quality of life, effect on family and children, and facilitating agents in transplant process. Conclusion: The present study concluded that the quality of life of participants after transplantation had improved in terms of relief from the dialysis-associated suffering. Worries about duration of graft function, future health, and cost were prevalent. There is a need to provide additional information, multidimensional support, and interventions following transplantation that target these concerns. This may support kidney recipients, better prepare for adaptation to life after transplant, and lead to improvements in the patient experience.