“A shared enemy to confront“: the experience and needs of the partners of kidney transplant patients - a qualitative study

Kidney disease and transplantation affect not only the patients but also their partners, requiring couples and families to adapt to and to cope with complex and ongoing psychosocial and practical demands. Despite playing a crucial role in caregiving and transplant success, partners' experiences and needs often remain overlooked. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences and needs of partners of kidney transplant recipients in the specific socio-cultural context of the study. Twelve in-depth interviews with partners of kidney transplant patients were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis. The following themes were identified: 1) The secondary presence: Partners in the background, 2) From Illness to a New Normal, 3) The Need for Support and Clearer Communication from Healthcare Professionals, 4) Redefining the "We" and 5) Transplantation as a Life-Changing Lesson. Findings indicate that partners overtake emotionally complex roles supporting their spouses, yet their difficulties and needs often remain invisible. While going through significant challenges during critical phases of kidney disease, they experience transplantation relationally, through dyadic coping. The shared couple's experience necessitates a focus on partner's voices and needs as well as a holistic approach aiming at managing and adapting couples to the transplantation process.