Gender-based experiences on the survival of chronic renal failure patients under hemodialysis for more than 20 years

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD), which causes reduction in kidney function, is a common public health problem worldwide. Among patients who have received hemodialysis for 20 years, the survival rate in first 5 years is merely 39.9%. Such rate is lower than that of cancer patients.ObjectivesIn an effort to understand and develop helpful realistic nursing interventions, we interviewed hemodialysis patients of different genders, who have survived more than 20 years, regarding what their survival experiences meant for them.MethodsWhile the phenomenological research method was used, the data were analyzed the by Colaizzi.ResultsWe found that the essential meaning of survival experiences was as follows: the stress of hemodialysis patients is similar to that of late-stage cancer patients, and the patients of each gender go through different experiences due to the country's specific cultures. However, regardless of genders, the positive supports from their families and nurses were important influences in their 20 years long survival. The results imply that an in-depth understanding of hemodialysis patients' experience is an essential element for developing effective nursing interventions.