title: Life in limbo: experiences of Iranian hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipient patients and nurses in a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explored the state of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipient patients and problems experienced by them and nurse about these state and problems, in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative content analysis was used for analyzing semi-structured interviews with 12 HSCT recipient patients and 18 nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  THREE MAIN CATEGORIES DESCRIBED THE HSCT STATE AND PROBLEMS: shadow of death, living with uncertainty, and immersion in problems. Patients treated with risk variety in continuity with probability of death. The patients lived with uncertainty. Consequently these resulted immersion in problems with four sub-categories including: (a) Physical problems, (b) money worries, (c) life disturbances, and (d) emotional strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HSCT patients live in a state of limbo between life and death with multidimensional problems. Establish centers for supporting and educating of patients and their families, education of health care providers, enhancement of public knowledge about HSCT along with allocating more budgets to take care of these patients can help patients for passing from this limbo.
authors: PhD, MScN, BScN (Associate professor) Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Vahid
authors: V
authors: Zamanzadeh
authors: PhD, MScN, BScN (Assistant Professor) Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Valizadeh
authors: PhD candidate, MScN, BScN, Student in Nursing, Students' Research Committee, Nursing & Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Sayadi
authors: PhD, MScN, BScN (Associate professor) Nursing and Midwifery care research center, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Fariba
authors: F
authors: Taleghani
authors: PhD, MD, Hematology-Oncology and stem cell transplantation research center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Jeddian
keywords: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Limbo; Uncertainty