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Impact of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: patients' perspectives
Authors Isla Pera P , Moncho, Guasch, Ricart, Torras
Received 19 June 2012
Accepted for publication 24 July 2012
Published 24 August 2012 Volume 2012:6 Pages 597—603
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S35144
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 3
P Isla Pera,1 J Moncho Vasallo,2 O Guasch Andreu,3 MJ Ricart Brulles,4 A Torras Rabasa4,5
1Public Health Department, Nursing School, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 2Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, Universidad Alicante, 3Facultat Sociologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 4Institut Clínic de Nefrología i Urología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 5Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Background: Few qualitative studies of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK Tx) have been published. The aims of this study were to explore from the perspective of patients, the experience of living with diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1DM), suffering from complications, and undergoing SPK Tx with good outcome; and to determine the impact of SPK Tx on patients and their social and cultural environment.
Methods: We performed a focused ethnographic study. Twenty patients were interviewed. Data were analyzed using content analysis and constant comparison following the method proposed by Miles and Huberman.
Results: A functioning SPK Tx allowed renal replacement therapy and insulin to be discontinued. To describe their new situation, patients used words and phrases such as "miracle", "being reborn" or "coming back to life". Although the complications of T1DM, its surgery and treatment, and associated psychological problems did not disappear after SPK Tx, these were minimized when compared with the pretransplantation situation.
Conclusion: For patients, SPK Tx represents a recovery of their health and autonomy despite remaining problems associated with the complications of T1DM and SPK Tx. The understanding of patients' existential framework and their experience of disease are key factors for planning new intervention and improvement strategies.
Keywords: qualitative research, ethnography, complications of diabetes mellitus type 1, simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation
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