Difficulties Experienced by Peritoneal Dialysis Patients in the Home Environment: A Phenomenological Study

Background: Treatment process experiences of peritoneal dialysis patients in the home environment may affect their daily living activities, social lives, and quality of life.

Aim: This study aimed to reveal the difficulties experienced by peritoneal dialysis patients in their home environment based on their own experiences.

Methods: The universe of this qualitative study consisted of peritoneal dialysis patients receiving services from a research hospital in a province in the Marmara Region. The sample included all patients over the age of 18 who were receiving peritoneal dialysis services between August 27 and October 27, 2023, who agreed to participate in the study. The study was completed with 15 participants. Data were collected using a "Descriptive Characteristics Form" and an "Assessment Form for Difficult Experiences of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients in the Home Environment." Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results: The majority of participants were women, married, and housewives (66.7%). In the study, the following themes and sub-themes were identified: “daily living activities (freedom of movement, sleep patterns and nighttime routines, time management and daily planning)”; “exhaustion/dependency (physical fatigue, device and program dependency)”; “social life and social activities (vacation and travel barriers, feelings of social isolation, family relationships)”; “peritoneal dialysis complications (physical complications, adaptation issues and transition to the machine, hygiene concerns and risk of infection)”; and “access to treatment and the treatment process (material procurement and economic difficulties, spatial inadequacies, expectations for institutional support and assistance).”

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the experiences of peritoneal dialysis patients indicate that healthcare should not be limited to the clinical dimension alone; supportive practices targeting the family, social environment, and work life are an integral part of patient care. It may be advisable to reassess and improve existing practices developed to prevent difficulties experienced by peritoneal dialysis patients in their home environment and to enhance protective measures.