THE ADJUSTING EXPERIENCE OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION RECIPIENTS IN KOREA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the adjusting process after kidney transplantation. Methods: The research method followed grounded theory methodology of Strauss and Corbin. Twelve recipients after kidney transplantation were selected. The data was collected through in-depth face-to-face interviews or e-mailing or phone-interviews and analyzed using a constant comparative method. Results: Through the category analysis, "struggling for independence" was verified as the central phenomenon of recipients, and the causal conditions that influence this phenomenon were "unpredictable physical status", "the difficulty of self-care", "apathy of families and friends", and "emotional instability". The contextual conditions were "social prejudice" and "difficulty In returning to society", and the intervening conditions were "significant others support" and "religious support". The action/interaction strategies were "inner reviewing strategies", "interactive strategies", and "active self-maintaining strategies". From this observation, "Establishing guidelines for living" was derived as the result Conclusions: The results of this study provided deep understanding on the adjusting process after kidney transplantation and these would help providing a frame for individualized medical and nursing intervention strategies in helping the psychosocial adaptation of kidney transplantation recipient.