Exploring Kidney Transplant Recipients’ Perspectives and Experiences Post transplantation At a University Hospital of Cairo: A Qualitative Study

Kidney transplantation introduces new challenges in patients' life as recipients obliged to live with a chronic life state and condition. The situation they need to adapt is complex. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore kidney transplant recipients' perspectives and experiences post-transplantation. A qualitative phenomenological design was used in this study. A purposive sample of 20 adult kidney recipients of both genders was recruited from a urology &nephrology outpatient clinic of a university affiliated hospital in Cairo. Personal and medical data structured questionnaire as well as face to face open-ended semi-structured audio-recording interviews were utilized to collect data pertinent to the study. Results revealed that; the sample age ranged from 21 to 54 years, sample perspectives and experiences were reflected through 8 main themes and related subthemes that includedencountered recipient feelings, fears of uncertain outcomes, perceived impact on life, encounteredmedical sad life, experienced challenges, attitudes toward self care practices, gain of support and perceived needs. Feelings of happiness, rebirth, and revives, being normal, settled life, fear of uncertain outcomes and fear of their lives related donor's health were expressed by participants. To conclude kidney recipients had encountered a vast array of feelings and experiences that shaped their life posttransplantation. Encountered feelings were both toward self and their living related donors. Further qualitative and quantitative studies are recommended.