Lived experiences of patients on hemodialysis: a meta-synthesis.

Patients on hemodialysis may experience physical, psychological, and relationship changes. The objective of this meta-synthesis was to analyze and synthesize findings from qualitative studies of lived experiences of patients on hemodialysis. Ten articles were included in the final review. Four themes emerged as a result of synthesizing the findings of those studies: having a physical shackle in life, feeling mental and emotional distress, relying on a hemodialysis machine, and dealing with problems.