This study explored the life-world of individuals being treated for end stage renal disease with a home haemodialysis machine (HHDM). A phenomenological framework was employed to gain an understanding of the lived-body in relation to the HHDM in order to assist in the planning of future social work interventions. A purposive sample of three participants who had each experienced various lengths of home haemodialysis treatment (HHDT) were interviewed using two semi-structured in-depth interviews, one week apart. Interviews were conducted at a place of the participant’s choice. Participants were asked to speak about their experience of HHDT and how it related to their bodily experience. The findings were interpreted using interpretive phenomenological analytic methods. The central theme that arose from the data was -œStruggles between the body and machine.- This theme spoke to the paradoxical dilemma of living with a life-saving machine that you have no control over. Implications suggest that the machine’s tendency to be personified means that it be considered as a family member in social assessment. Emotional support to patients should acknowledge the machine’s dehumanizing tendencies and as well as the issue of its personification. Finally, a patient’s unmet needs may turn to subversion if not addressed by staff, suggesting that a systematic process to empower patients be established.
