Life Experiences After Arteriovenous Fistula for Hemodialysis

Abstract

This research aims to generally understand and describe one's life experiences living with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis. The data were collected through in-depth interviews of eight participants, who were receiving hemodialysis and who participated in the research from March 1 to April 10, 2016. Colaizzi's phenomenological method was used as the method of analysis. The research results were revealed to be the following theme clusters: 1) Struggle to keep life line, 2) Stigma, 3) Self-management, 4) Life falling back on something, 5) The vanity of life (Come empty, return empty). Although the patients had difficulty in accepting the fact that they had to receive hemodialysis therapy at first, they led their lives by perceiving the importance of AVF, and practicing health care methods suitable for themselves as time went on, according to this research. Even though they had difficulties due to the stigma of abnormality, they lived realizing how much their present life was valuable because of a disease. The significance of this research is understanding the essence of life experiences living with AVF, and presenting basic data useful for nursing intervention development for the patients.