Capturing the Phenomenological Perspective of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis in Gujrat, Pakistan

ABSTRACT
Chronic kidney disease is becoming more prevalent and causing major health issues worldwide. Hemodialysis is most commonly used to treat chronic kidney disease. Even though it prolongs life, the complicated nature of the treatment process affects patients’ normal lives and causes mental health problems. A qualitative method with a phenomenological approach was used in the current study. Data were collected by conducting the semi-structured interview with 10 participants selected through purposive sampling from 2 (1 public & 1 private) Hospitals in Gujrat, Pakistan. Following data collection, verbatim transcripts were converted into themes using the Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic analysis technique. Three major themes about the effect of illness emerged from the narrative of participants in this study: (1) Uncertainty, (2) Impact, (3) Dependency. The results shed light on the experiences of hemodialysis patients, who depend heavily on strong social, familial, and societal support systems to prevent feelings of loneliness, helplessness, and depression. Health professionals can use the study’s findings to enhance the standard of care and help patients receiving hemodialysis live better lives.