title: Patients' experiences of peritoneal dialysis at home: a phenomenological approach.
abstract: The aim of this study was to highlight the meaning of home dialysis as experienced by patients with chronic renal failure. The research design was influenced by Ricoeur's phenomenology. Nineteen patients from a Brazilian public hospital were interviewed, from May to September 2009. Interviews were guided by the question: "Tell me about your experiences lived undergoing PD". Findings unveiled the patients' perception of the drastic changes in their existence, consequent to disease and treatment; and the perception of themselves in that process. The feeling of anguish, physical pain and deprivations were part of living that condition. They foresee an uncertain future, depending on the expertise of health care providers and the demands on support of significant others. Findings suggest that individual aspects of patients' experiences must be considered if health care providers are to facilitate positive health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, SP, Brazil. sadal@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia Araújo
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sadala
authors.forename: Gabriela Azevedo de Souza
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bruzos
authors.forename: Estela Regina
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Edwa Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bucuvic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult