ABSTRACT
This study looked into the lived experiences of ten patients undergoing hemodialysis 2-3 times a week for 6 months and beyond in Laguna.
The research design used was qualitative with phenomenology as an approach. Using the interpretative phenomenological approach, the study generated nine superordinate themes which were Acquiring the Disease, Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease, Encountering Hemodialysis, Reactions Towards Treatment, Physical Manifestation of the Treatment, Challenges Encountered, Strategies in Adjusting, Various Support Involved, and Hemodialysis an Overview.
Under the first theme, it discovered the causes of chronic kidney disease and how it started. For the second theme, all the participants were saddened when they found out that they had chronic kidney disease. As for the third theme, ten participants enumerated various feelings when they found out that they should undergo hemodialysis. For the fourth theme, they revealed their emotions before, during, and after they underwent a session. Under the fifth theme, it explored the physical experiences of the participants before, during, and after they undergo session. For the sixth theme, they revealed challenges they encountered in hemodialysis and cited their limitations. As for the seventh theme, they mentioned different strategies in adjusting as patients undergoing hemodialysis. For the eighth and ninth theme, they mentioned various supports they needed for their current health condition and their recommendations to other patients like them.
As an output of the study, an infographic for hemodialysis patients and chronic kidney disease patients to spread awareness deals with this kind of disease was proposed.