For patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis treatment, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presented major challenges not just to the disease self-management, but also to the daily struggles of the patients themselves. This study aimed to understand and explore the lived experiences of ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis at the time of COVID-19 in Zamboanga City. A descriptive phenomenological method was conducted, and purposive sampling was used in recruiting participants from the Renal Center of Western Mindanao- Zamboanga City Medical Center (RCWM-ZCMC). Eleven patients (3 males, 8 females) aged between 24 and 58 years old, with minimum of 6 months and maximum of 11 years history of hemodialysis, participated in the study. The data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews via Messenger video calling for 10 to 25 minutes. Upon analyzing the interviews of the participants using Colaizzi Method, four main themes and 19 sub-themes were identified from the lived experiences of patients : (1) life amidst adversities, (2)life worth taking care of, (3) life coping to survive, and (4) life during lockdown. Based on the results of the study, the adversities faced by the patients involve their physical well-being, mental well-being, financial expenses, and difficulties in accessing transporation services. The concept of care emerged in the form of self-care, home care, professional care, social care, and high-quality dialysis. Coping styles and strategies was shared to cope with the stress brought by their disease and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The protocols and policies towards COVID-19 resulted to patient acceptance and compliance, but it should be noted that some experienced difficulties adjusting, and this warrants careful consideration from the policymakers.

Keyword: End-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis Lived experiences of patients