Experiences of Patients Living with Peritoneal Dialysis: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Peritoneal dialysis is a renal replacement therapy in which individuals themselves manage their treatment processes. During this treatment, patients who receive peritoneal dialysis go through a lot of experiences. Objectives: The study aims to describe the experiences of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. Methods: This study used a qualitative descriptive design. In-depth face-to-face interviews with the participants (n = 16) were conducted using semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using the content analysis method. Results: Three main themes emerged as a result of the content analyses: “experiences affecting adaptation”, “daily life activities”, and “emotional experiences”. Conclusion: Thanks to these learned experiences, nurses can give more individualized patient care. Arrangements can be made in areas that are difficult in daily life activities. Considering these experiences in patient care, they can facilitate the adaptation of the patient and help to cope with negative emotions.