ABSTRACT
Assessing and providing interventions to improve the comfort status of the patients' needs to be a priority of nursing practice and further research. We did this study to explore the living experiences with maintenance HD among these patients. This qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach on 12 HD patients from February 10, 2019 to July 30, 2019. The data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using Grenham and Landman approach. The main theme was "dialysis therapies with dual face." Three main categories were included: "Dual mood by dialysis," "Dual feelings with dialysis, " and "Relying on the family and health care workers." The results showed that patients' dependence on HD was accompanied by both good and bad moods and created dual emotions both positive and negative. Influenced by these feelings, these patients had shown a variety of reactions such as trying to adjust to life on HD, relying on supports and beliefs. In this study, a dual face was seen in HD in the eyes of these patients. Therefore, "dual face HD therapy" was identified as the essence of the experiences of HD patients. Health-care providers should try to eliminate the bad and unpleasant face of HD.
