Coping strategies in patients with kidney transplant rejection: A phenomenological study

Resumen

Most of the patients with kidney transplantationare exposed to its rejectionin different ways. The undesired phenomenonof transplant rejection causes various physicaland mental problems in patients and it is inevitable forthem to utilize coping strategies in order to deal withthe new condition. The aim of this study was to obtaina deeper insight into coping strategies that kidney transplantrecipients utilize in order to deal with the challenges.Methods: Deep semi-structured interviews were implementedwith 10 participants using phenomenologicalapproach. Data analysis was done using Van Manen’smethod and sampling was based on purposeful method.Findings: three themes and seven subthemes describingthe coping strategies of patients with transplant rejectionwere emerged from data analysis. The themes included‘seeking support’, ‘spirituality’, and ‘accepting the reality’.Conclusion: it seems that one specific adaptation strategyis used in every stage of coping with transplant rejection.During first days, the strategy of family and friends’ supportplays an important role. Afterwards, patients perceivethat through spirituality, they can manage their diseaseand after a while, they admit the inevitability of acceptingtransplant rejection; thus, setting new goals for themselvesand trying to achieve adaptation despite their restrictions.