Life on Facebook: self-care in renal transplantation patients

ABSTRACT

Objective

To analyze self-care in renal transplantation patients.

Methods

Qualitative research, inspired in the post-structuralism. The empirical material was composed by the posts of a Facebook group of Renal Transplantation Patients, collected from February to May of 2016, totaling 53 posts from 35 participants. The research data were analyzed under the perspective of cultural analysis, using theories derived from Foucault.

Results

Self-care in renal transplantation patients was identified by the preoccupation with themselves and others, habits and lifestyles, restrictions and limitations that the disease imposes, such as lessons, ways of living and lifestyles after the procedure.

Conclusions

This experience forces people that have been submitted to renal transplantation to reflect on the lifestyle they follow. The group also stimulates adhesion to treatment.

Kidney transplantation; Culture; Internet; Nursing; Self-care; Patient compliance