The lived experience of patients with idiopathic anaphylaxis

Idiopathic Anaphylaxis (IA) refers to an anaphylactic episode without identifying a specific trigger after an appropriate history and testing (Calvani, 2022). It is a diagnosis of exclusion used to classify a potentially fatal condition with clinical syndromes indistinguishable from allergic type one IgE-mediated hypersensitivity (IgE-A) (Weiler et al., 2023). Scientific literature has focused on IgE-A but little is known about patients with IA and how they experience life. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) should be informed of how patients with IA present and experience this condition. NPs should educate themselves on the variation in symptom experiences and contribute to the patient's overall well-being. This descriptive phenomenological study utilized the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms (TOUS) framework. Qualitative semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of the lived experience of IA patients. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 12 v12.7 software. Colizzi's 7-step analysis process was used. The study sample (n=14) comprised adults ages 23-63 years old with IA. This study's findings revealed how patients with IA perceive their life living with this condition. Five overarching themes were identified from the data: (a) loss of control and confusion, (b) fear, (c) living on alert, (d) negative experiences with healthcare providers, and (e) the journey for support and affirmation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing Science

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Applewhite, T'neecia Leigh

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Cottrell, Damon B.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Richmond, Misty
• Klacman, Alex

• Histamine
• Anaphylactoid
• Mastocytosis
• Anaphylaxis
• Trauma
• Idiopathic

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/11274/16913

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/16913