RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The scientific literature shows, that caring parents of children with chronic kidney disease experience profound changes of life-world in terms of their welfare and their health. The different experiences that by the child's illness influenced the life-world of the parents in the two stages of life "living with peritoneal dialysis" and "living after kidney transplantation" have not yet been described in the German literature. METHODOLOGY: To study the changing life-world in the two stages of life "living with peritoneal dialysis" and "living after kidney transplantation" of the child, a single case study was carried out. The mother was interviewed using a problem-centered-interview. The analysis of the interview was based on Mayring's technique of content analysis (2002). RESULTS: The category system shows that mother's life-world is influenced by different experiences in both stages of life. Subjectively, the mother saw her greatest challenge during the "life with peritoneal dialysis" in following the hygienic rules and the prevention of peritation" was her fear that the donor kidney would be rejected by her child. IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study correspond to the results of previous studies in the English literature. Healthcare professionals, including nurses can use the results of this study to build up a professional relationship, for empathic support and for improvement of parental well-being. Further qualitative research should focus on healthcare professionals' view regarding the experiences and needs of caring parents of children with chronic kidney disease in order to compare with parents' view.
