title: Lived experiences and illness representation of Taiwanese patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease.
abstract: This qualitative study was designed to identify patients' experiences and perceptions related to living with late-stage chronic kidney disease. Interviews were held for 15 patients with late-stage chronic kidney disease from two medical centers in Taiwan. Five themes were identified using content analysis: experiencing moderate to severe symptoms and signs; tracing back to causes; realizing the long-term, irreversible nature of the disease; facing the consequence of unavoidable deterioration; and coping with the disease. The findings present the special lived experiences of Taiwanese chronic kidney disease patients and highlight the need for healthcare providers to assess patients' illness representation before offering interventions for patients coping with chronic kidney disease.
authors.affiliation: Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan.|Fooyin University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan chiuchu@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chiu-Chu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Fooyin University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Changhua Christian Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: chronic kidney disease; illness representation; lived experiences; nursing; qualitative methods