Living with a Chronic Condition: A Study of Patients’ Life Transitions with Renal Conditions

Chronic diseases encompass many physical and psychosocial challenges altering individuals’ life styles. The study is based on the theoretical framework of the ‘response shift model’ of quality of life which suggests that individuals living with the chronic conditions tend to re-conceptualize and reprioritize their responses accordingly. This study examines how patients’ living with renal conditions describes their coping with the adverse side effects of mandatory treatment protocol on a lifelong basis. The study focuses on the physical, psychological, and sociocultural challenges faced by renal patients in a developing country where financial issues of affordability, disease burden, and stigma are some of the serious challenges causing psychological distress in these individuals. Using a qualitative approach, participants including 12 renal patients (6 men and 6 women) were recruited on criterion based sampling technique from the renal clinics in Lahore. Data was transcribed and thematically analyzed. The reported experiences of living with a lifelong condition revealed 8 emerging themes including approach-avoidance conflict, cost benefit analysis, locus of control, expectations, awareness and knowledge of side effects, health beliefs and future concerns, doctor-patient relationship, and acceptance. Most patients were aware of the side effects of drugs and reported distress.