Struggles between the body and machine: the paradox of living with a home haemodialysis machine.
This study explored the life-world of individuals being treated for end stage renal disease with a home haemodialysis machine (HHDM). A phenomenological framework was employed to gain an understanding of the lived-body in relation to the HHDM in order to assist in the planning of future social work interventions. A purposive sample of three participants who had each experienced various lengths of HHDT, were interviewed using two semi-structured in-depth interviews, one week apart. Interviews were conducted at a place of the participant's choice. Participants were asked to speak about their experience of HHDT and how it related to their bodily experience. The findings were interpreted using interpretive phenomenological analytic methods. The central theme that arose from the data was "Struggles between the body and machine". This theme spoke to paradoxical dilemma of living with a life saving machine that you have no control over. Implications suggest that the machine's tendency to be personified, means that it be considered as family member in social assessment. Emotional support to patients should acknowledge the machines dehumanizing tendencies and as well as the issue of its personification. Finally, a patients unmet needs may turn to subversion if not addressed by staff, suggesting that a systematic process to empower patients be established.
Giles
Stephen
S
Renal Social Work, Toronto General Hospital, Room number ESG-470, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada. stephen.giles@uhn.on.c2
D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006437:Hemodialysis, Home / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D012947:Social Work