Embodied transformations, the life-world of home haemodialysis

grantor: University of TorontoWith a growth in home-care, and increased funding for dialysis, there is a need for the field of Social Work to understand the life world of the people who experience home haemodialysis technology. Given that little research has focussed on the lived-experiences of this population (Nagle, 1995), an exploratory qualitative study was employed (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). The study investigated the embodied life-world experiences of this population using phenomenological methods (Kvale, 1996; van Manen, 1997). A purposive sample of four was selected, with each participant experiencing various lengths of home haemodialysis technology. The data was collected and analyzed in terms of the four phenomenological categories of lived-time, lived-body, lived-spatiality, and lived-relations with others and self (van Manen, 1997). The findings revealed the embodied transformations of the participant's life-world. Implications for social work policy, practice, and research were discussed.M.S.W