The Live Experiences of Patients’ Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/Keywords:
Live Experience, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Qualitative Research, Hematologic Diseases, Hematologic Malignancies.Abstract
Background: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is a critical treatment modality which affects all aspects of the patients’ life. Previous studies explored the patients’ experiences of HSCT retrospectively. None of the study has specifically explored the experiences of patients during the HSCT process. The current study aimed to explore the live experiences of patients undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) throughout the process.
Methods: Using a qualitative exploratory descriptive research design, 11 participants were included in the study via purposive sampling. Daily diary writing by the patients in response to the semi-structured interview guide was the main strategy of data collection followed by individual interviews and observations, as and when required. Data were analyzed for the theme and sub-themes following the Elo and Kygnas process of inductive qualitative content analysis.
Results and Conclusion: The data analysis revealed the sub-themes, “Worries and Apprehensions”, “Being Caged”, and “Web of Miseries”, corroborated by the theme “A leap in the Dark” portraying the participants’ overall experience of HSCT. The findings of this study have highlighted the patients’ feelings and emotions, and the needs, problems, and challenges specific to each phase of HSCT. The worries and apprehensions in the conditioning and transplant phase were related to the procedural aspects, treatment outcome, and restrains of isolation required in HSCT. The physical debilities were agonizing in the neutropenic phase of HSCT. However, in the engraftment phase, the patients’ emotional stress was found reduced due to their recovery from the HSCT. But, their uncertainty about the therapeutic effectiveness of HSCT and disease recurrence was persistent. The study findings emphasize the need for inculcation of empathic behavior by the health care professionals, and call for modifications in the structural, operational, and clinical aspects of HSCT by the health care organizations as vital to making this experience better for the patients.
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