Lived experiences and illness representation of Taiwanese patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Chia-Chen; Lin, Chiu-Chu; Hsieh, Hsiu-Fang; Chang, Shu-Chen
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 21:Number 12(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 2788
• Page End: 2798
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: chronic kidney disease -- illness representation -- lived experiences -- nursing -- qualitative methods; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105315587134
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

This qualitative study was designed to identify patients' experiences and perceptions related to living with late-stage chronic kidney disease. Interviews were held for 15 patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease from two medical centers in Taiwan. Five themes were identified using content analysis: experiencing moderate to severe symptoms and signs; tracing back to causes; realizing the long-term, irreversible nature of the disease; facing the consequence of unavoidable deterioration; and coping with the disease. The findings present the special lived experiences of Taiwanese chronic kidney disease patients and highlight the need for healthcare providers to assess patients' illness representation before offering interventions for patients coping with chronic kidney disease.