Summary: | A qualitative phenomenological study using van Manen’s human science method was conducted to gain insight into the lived experience of patients and their family members transitioning through one hundred days post haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Three families between zero and five years post HSCT were recruited from a bone marrow transplant unit in central Canada. Multiple in-depth open-ended interviews and field notes were employed to arrive at a detailed description of the lived experience of patients and family members. Awakening from the cocoon emerged as the main essence of patient’s and family members’ experiences, supported by three themes: the disruptions, the chrysalis, and new beginnings. The results from this study provide evidence that the families viewed the HSCT in a positive perspective and highlight the importance of supporting families throughout the acute phase of transplantation.
|