A Burden that Complicates Life. The Experience of Starting a Noncommunicable Chronic Disease. A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Objective: The objective is to describe the experience that people live at the beginning of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Methodology: This qualitative study was developed under the method of interpretive phenomenology. It was held between July 2019 and July 2020 in the city of Medellín, Colombia. Ten people with chronic noncommunicable diseases such as heart failure; arterial hypertension; diabetes; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic renal failure participated. The information was collected through semi-structured interviews. The data analysis was done through the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis strategy and with the support of the NVIVO Plus 12 software. Results: It was identified that the experience of people when they start with a chronic noncommunicable disease is represented by three topics, namely: “to realize you are sick”, “to resist being sick" and "to complicate life”. Conclusions: The earlier patients become aware of being sick, the better attitude towards the disease, adherence to treatment and a possible reduction or delay of complications derived from it is possible. Also, it is identified that patients wage an internal battle in the process of accepting the disease, which affects their emotional state. Coming to accept the NCDs imply a forced, resigned, and obligatory transformation of traditionally rooted behaviors, habits, and learning.