An interpretive phenomenological study on the lived experiences of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation patients 'in an Islamic context'

Purpose

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has serious complications despite its potential curative effects. Some of these complications can impede ongoing treatment and healing. Transplantation is a long journey that requires close follow-up and monitoring. In-depth knowledge of patient perspectives is essential to provide quality care at all levels. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of allo-HCT patients.

Methods

An interpretive phenomenological design was employed in this study. One-to-one virtual semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with nine adult allo-HCT patients. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data were analyzed by Diekelmann's seven-stage analysis technique. The study was carried out at Princess Noorah Oncology Center (PNOC) at Jeddah city.

Results

The participants were found to experience a range of physical and psychological changes as they progressed through the transplantation stages. These changes were interconnected and portrayed challenges dealing with transplantation. Overall, the findings revealed the complex and multifaceted nature of the recovery process, illustrating the delicate balance survivors are trying to reach through deep reasoning and mental adaptations. The experiences of the participants were captured in several themes: Transplantation knowledge aligned with patient preferences, transplantation course, perspective shift and transformation, family role transition, mental wellness, surrender, support system, and patience.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the experiences of allo-HCT patients, how these patients transitioned from one stage to another, and the intellectual skills they embraced through this transition process. The findings reflected the coping strategies and mechanisms used by patients to overcome hardship and revealed aspects of illness and wellness concepts.