Introduction: Patients often begin their renal transplantation journey after a period of coping with organ failure due to their chronic medical illnesses. This is often fraught with periods of uncertainty, medical complications, multiple hospitalizations, as well as personal losses. After living- or deceased-donor renal transplantation, it is necessary that recipients continue to receive ongoing treatment and medical surveillance, including the use of lifelong immunosuppressive drugs, adherence to regular clinic and laboratory attendance, infection prevention, and lifestyle guidelines. These expectations and demands can have psychological implications for renal transplant recipients. However, little is known about the psychological experiences of renal transplant recipients in Singapore.
Purpose: This study seeks to understand and document the psychological experiences of renal transplant recipient, to inform service provision and provide better psychological support for patients.
Method: This qualitative study involved the recruitment of 15 kidney transplant recipients via purposive sampling. Inductive thematic analyses of focus-group discussions and in-depth interviews were undertaken.
Results: The analyses revealed five main themes: (1) the paradox between gratitude and indebtedness, (2) adjustment to a "new normal", (3) the importance of self-management, (4) fear of the future, and (5) systemic discrimination.
Conclusions: This study helps us to understand the complex and ever-evolving psychological experiences of undergoing a renal transplant, identifying both the positive and negative aspects that can be targeted in post-transplant care. It also underscores the need for access to psychotherapy as an integral part of holistic transplant care.