Experiences of Effective Psychological Adjustment in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Qualitative...

Patients receiving long-term maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) are prone to psychological distress, which adversely affects their self-management capabilities and overall quality of life. This study explores the experiences and strategies related to positive psychological adjustment in this population, with the aim of informing interventions to improve disease adjustment and quality of life.

This study, guided by the Roy adaptation model, utilized an interpretative phenomenological methodology. Adopting the patient perspective, semi-structured interviews were used to investigate the experiences of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. From May to July 2025, a purposive sampling approach was employed to recruit 15 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis from Henan Province, China, who demonstrated positive psychological adjustment. The data was organized via NVivo 12.0 and analyzed via Colaizzi's method.

Four primary themes were identified: (1) Balancing acceptance of physiological limitations with proactive adjustment to life on maintenance hemodialysis; (2) Accurate Self-Repositioning; (3) Pursuing a renewed life by exploring and embracing novel social roles; (4) Drawing upon the strength of kinship and friendship to restore confidence in life.

The psychological adjustment of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis is a dynamic process characterized by accepting their health status, reconstructing personal values, and reshaping social roles, with robust social support systems playing a pivotal role in this process. This experiential framework offers critical insights for informing clinical patient management and designing targeted psychological interventions.