Kidney transplantation: experience of men in hemodialysis entered on the waiting list

Abstract

Objective: to know the experiences of men with chronic renal failure under hemodialysis treatment entered on the kidney transplant waiting list. Method: qualitative study based on the principles of the National Policy for Integral Attention to Men’s Health and Masculinity, conducted with 11 participants in a hemodialysis service, through serial semi-structured interviews and inductive data analysis. Results: the following categories emerged: Gaps between the health policies and the reality of the male population and Challenges and possibilities of change in the life process. Conclusion: although many of these men see hemodialysis as synonym of imprisonment, others understand it as the possibility of maintaining survival and this help them waiting for the kidney transplant.