Recipients' experiences of living-related renal transplantation

Section A. The literature review critically considers the evidence relating to the psychological consequences of living-related renal transplantation. Circumscribed research has suffered from an assumptive bias and has identified only partial responses to transplantation, whilst considering recipients as a homogeneous group. Recommendations for the exploration of the encompassing experience of living-related renal transplantation from recipients' own position and understanding are made. Section B. The current study aimed to explore the experiences of living-related renal transplant recipients. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with eight participants and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to examine the transcripts. The analysis identified a total of twenty sub themes, which reflected the participants' experiences. From this, five super-ordinate themes were elicited: story of illness, kidney as a gift, uncertainty about the future, coping mechanisms and liberty. Clinical implications for practice include recommendations for health professionals conveying information, the provision of pre-operative information and education, systemic working between health professionals and post-transplant care facilities. Further research is required to examine the effects of gender on living-related transplantation, and the impact of transplantation on family members. Section C. The critical appraisal reflects upon the process and experience of conducting research. Learning points are considered from the difficulties faced, to inform future practice.