Between uncertainty and hope: A meta-ethnographic synthesis of patients awaiting kidney transplantation

Objective

This study synthesizes qualitative research on the lived experiences of individuals awaiting kidney transplantation, with particular attention to their emotional, psychological, and social journeys during the waiting period.

Methods

A meta-ethnographic approach was employed, guided by Noblit and Hare's seven-phase framework. Systematic searches were conducted across six databases—PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Wiley, and Ovid—resulting in 5452 records. After applying predefined eligibility criteria, eight qualitative studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included. First-order constructs (participants' accounts) and second-order constructs (researchers' interpretations) were integrated to generate third-order interpretive themes.

Results

Six overarching themes were identified: (1) navigating uncertainty, (2) sustaining hope and anticipation, (3) psychological strain and emotional weight, (4) readiness and coping resources, (5) support systems and communication, and (6) identity transformation and personal growth. These themes emphasize the complexity of the experience of waiting for a transplant, which is characterized by temporal ambiguity, emotional vulnerability, and existential reflection. Support from peers and healthcare professionals, as well as adaptive coping strategies, played a pivotal role in fostering psychological resilience.

Conclusion

Waiting for a kidney transplant profoundly reshapes patients' perceptions of self, time, and well-being. Insights from this synthesis can guide the design of targeted psychosocial interventions and patient-centered support programs. These findings hold relevance for nurses, transplant coordinators, and mental health practitioners involved in caring for this population.