The Lived Experience of Inpatients With Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis: A Qualitative Research Study From West China

The incidence of acute pancreatitis (AP) has increased year by year. Approximately 20%-30% of these patients will have further subsequent attacks, described as acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP). Patients who are repeatedly admitted to hospitals suffer significant psychological problems and mental hardships. In the current study, we aimed to illuminate the lived experience of inpatients with ARP from Chongqing, China. A purposive sample of 13 ARP patients was recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Semistructured and in-depth qualitative interviews were adopted in this phenomenological research. Data were analyzed by Colaizzi's Method of descriptive phenomenology and feedback on early findings from the participants. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed with the permission of the participants. Five themes presented in the study: anxiety and fear, lack of related knowledge, inevitability and helplessness, guilt and shame, hope, and perseverance. Overall, the ARP inpatients showed complexed experience, both active and positive. They also performed poor compliance during their hospitalization but wished for professional knowledge. Nurses should pay attention to their psychological changes to take effective interventions for them.