A Heideggerian Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Ghanaian Patients Living With End-Stage Renal Disease

Abstract

There is a lack of knowledge regarding perceptions, feelings, and experiences of Ghanaian patients living with ESRD. This study aimed to discover the experience and meaning of living with ESRD. This qualitative study was conducted using Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology. A total of 13 participants were purposefully selected, and data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Diekelmann, Allen, and Tanner method. After the final analysis, five main themes emerged: Spiritual fluctuation, Living in uncertainty, Period of agony and frustration, Tough fortification, and Changed roles and status. This study provided deep insight and understanding regarding the lived experiences of patients living with end-stage renal disease in Ghana. The results of this study may benefit nursing care in terms of considering the patients’ lived experiences to provide quality and person-centered care.

Patients’ experience of undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. An interview study from Ethiopia

“…Participants frequently chose to reduce the number of hemodialysis sessions per week, skipped taking their prescribed medications and sold their properties due to financial limitations. This finding is consistent with studies conducted in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jordan and the US [ 22 , 25 , 33 , 34 , 36 ]. There is a need for the Federal Ministry of Health to increase the number of government-funded dialysis centers and monitor the cost and quality of renal services provided in the country to reduce the arbitrary prices for dialysis seen in private dialysis facilities.…”

“…Similarly, a systematic review reported that spirituality enables hemodialysis patients to give value to their lives and feel strong while dealing with this challenging disease [ 32 ]. A similar study performed in Ghana is also consistent with our findings in that participants exhibited spiritual fluctuation (belief in God and slips of faith) [ 33 ]. They described belief in God as a means of accepting and coping with the disease.…”

“…According to this study, participants felt stigmatized by their family and the community, which is congruent with a similar study performed in Ghana [ 33 ], in which people undergoing hemodialysis received unwelcomed treatment from their family and friends, including refusal to eat with the participants.…”

“…In this study, participants experienced fatigue, which hindered their attempts at routine social activities, in line with results of previous studies [22,33,36,37]. Similarly, participants in this study revealed that fatigue altered their jobs, sexual desires and marital relationships, which is in line with the finding of studies in Jordan, Spain and Ethiopia [25,38,39].…”

Influence of dialysis‐related stigma on health‐related indicators in Japanese patients undergoing hemodialysis

“…For example, one study investigated social stigma among patients with ESRD, who were at times reticent to draw excessive attention to their dietary needs/fluid intake restrictions and avoided disclosing their disease to others [17]. Moreover, patients with ESRD have reported stigmatization after specific events, including refusals to eat together and facing unsupportive or unhelpful attitudes from health workers [18].…”