Psychosocial experiences kidney transplant Patients at ST. PAULOS Millennium Medical College
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Date
2021-07
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AAU
Abstract
Dialysis is available as an alternative remedy for renal impairment, however, kidney
transplantation is generally the preferred treatment as it tends to extend life-span and
lead to an improved quality of life, in addition to being more cost-effective than dialysis.
This is primarily due to the significant limitations caused by dialysis, many of which can
be resolved by Kidney transplantation. The general objective of this study was to explore
psychosocial experiences of kidney transplant patients before and after transplant at St.
Paul‟s Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of ten participants were
included using the purposive sampling method. Interviewer administered semi-structured
data collection instrument made up of open and closed ended questions were used.
Careful verbatim transcriptions of the gathered data were done. Data were analyzed with
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. It‟s found that loss of freedom, uncertainty
about timely transplant, social isolation, economic crisis, distracted self-image, and
lowered elf-esteem emerged as psychosocial challenges during dialysis. Re-birth,
thankfulness, social bond, liberty from dialysis, self-efficacy and social support were
emerged as positive psychosocial experiences whereas dependency, fear of the future,
adherence challenge, and regret emerged as negative psychosocial experiences. The
researcher concluded that compared with dialysis, life after receiving a kidney is pleasant
and enabling though it is not without challenges. While patients developed psychosocial
crisis they become non-compliant with the treatment. The study recommends that every
concerned stakeholder including government, hospitals and different concerned
authorities should take part in supporting the dialysis and kidney transplant patients in
order to address those individuals‟ psychosocial experiences.
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Keywords
Kidney Transplantation, psychological experience, dialysis