Social construction of the experience of living with chronic kidney disease.
Claudia Andrea Ramírez-Perdomo, Mari Carmen Solano-Ruíz
PMID 30110104WHAT IT FOUND
Transplant recipients described kidney disease as an abrupt, unexpected break in daily life.
They felt trapped by treatment limits, ashamed of physical changes, and financially strained. Family support was essential for coping, while symptoms often went unnoticed until diagnosis.
Key findings
01Participants described the diagnosis as a sudden, unexpected event that broke their everyday life, often because symptoms were ignored or unrecognized before the disease progressed.
02Living with the disease and treatment led to feelings of being stuck, social isolation, and shame due to visible physical changes like body deterioration and arteriovenous fistulas.
03Family and friend support was identified as crucial for coping with the disease, helping patients feel less alone and facilitating their adaptation to the new lifestyle.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (11 participants) and limited to kidney transplant recipients in one city in Colombia, which restricts the generalizability of the findings to other populations or those on dialysis only. The study relied on self-reported experiences and interviews, which may be subject to recall bias or social desirability bias. The authors note that the results are difficult to generalize, though they may highlight similar aspects in other people living with chronic kidney disease.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Antioquia.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that specific nursing interventions improve outcomes. This study describes the patient experience to inform holistic care, but it does not test whether any particular approach reduces depression, improves adherence, or enhances quality of life.