Post-discharge life adaptations of spouses of allotransplanted male patients

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the process of adaptation experienced by the spouses of allotransplanted male patients following discharge. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with six spouses and questioned them about the difficulties experienced in daily life following the discharge of their husband, and their coping strategies. We descriptively analyzed the interview data using the modified grounded theory approach. Results: We extracted ‘habituation of combating communicable diseases' from “responsibility for making effort,” “management of everyday life, ”confidence derived from experience “ and “habituation in the family.” We also extracted ‘change in anxiety and concern' from “perception of differences in attitude in daily life between husband and wife,” “change in the sense of values,” “finding a point of compromise in each family,” “benefit from allotransplant,” and “persistent anxiety.” Conclusion: The females habituated themselves to combating communicable diseases by gaining self-efficacy so that they reconciled a new, fixed lifestyle with their husbands following allotransplantation. Although their anxiety and concerns changed over time, they had persistent anxiety about both their husbands' health, including the risk of relapse or graft-versus-host disease, and financial hardships.