Phenomenological Approach to Experiences of Indnvnduals Preperad for Stem Cell Transplantation

This phenomenological study was conducted to determine the experiences of patients who had been waiting for stem cell therapy in the Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Therapy Center of a medical faculty. The study was conducted with 12 patients who had been waiting for transplant and was being prepared for transplant. Patients with no communication problem, psychiatric disorder and hearing problem were recruited to the study. Data was collected through quantitative methods. Also, focusgroup and in-depth interviews were done. It is aimed to get in-depth, detailed and multidimensional quantitative data regarding the experiences, senses and attitudes of the patients to undergo bone marrow transplant. It was found that patients felt shocked when they learned about their diseases; prior to transplant, they were affected physically and psychologically by the chemotherapy subsequent to transplant. However, when they heard about transplant, they became hopeful and wanted to go back to their families after therapy. According to these results, it is suggested that nurses should determine how the life of the patients is affected before stem cell transplant, and provide the patients with necessary psychosocial support