Lived Experiences of Productive-Age Hemodialysis Patients: A Phenomenological Study of Meaning-Making, Acceptance, and Adaptation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v8i5.2473Keywords:
adaptation, chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis, meaning-making, phenomenologyAbstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) requiring lifelong hemodialysis creates multidimensional challenges for productive-age patients, affecting physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of life. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of productive-age patients undergoing hemodialysis in the processes of meaning-making, acceptance, and adaptation to CKD. This qualitative phenomenological study involved eight participants aged 18-40 years undergoing hemodialysis for at least six months at the Hemodialysis Unit of Pringsewu District Hospital, Indonesia. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Four themes were identified: spiritual struggles following diagnosis, meaning-making and spiritual transformation, the process of self-acceptance toward chronic illness, and sources of strength and adaptation through family support and active coping strategies. Adaptation to CKD and lifelong hemodialysis is a gradual and dynamic process involving spiritual reconstruction, emotional adjustment, and behavioral adaptation. Contribution to science: This study enriches nursing knowledge by providing deeper insight into the experiences of productive-age hemodialysis patients and emphasizing the importance of holistic, spiritually sensitive, and family-centered nursing interventions to support successful adaptation and improve patients’ well-being.
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