Exploring Patient Experiences of Stem Cell Therapy for Musculoskeletal Injuries: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
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Abstract
Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering have emerged as transformative fields aimed at restoring damaged tissues through stem cell therapy and other advanced biotechnologies. However, while clinical outcomes in musculoskeletal disorders have been widely examined, the subjective dimensions of patients’ healing experiences remain underexplored, marking a clear research gap. This study addresses that gap by employing an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore how patients undergoing stem cell therapy for musculoskeletal injuries interpret recovery, manage uncertainty, and reconstruct meaning in their daily lives. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with ten patients who had received stem cell therapy within the past year. Through iterative phenomenological coding, key experiential themes emerged—restored hope, persistent uncertainty, embodied awareness, and social reintegration—offering a nuanced account of healing as both a biomedical and existential process. Methodologically, this study contributes by demonstrating how IPA can reveal the interpretative processes that shape patients’ understanding of regenerative treatments, extending beyond traditional clinical metrics. These insights underscore the importance of integrating phenomenological perspectives into regenerative medicine research and practice to design therapies that address psychological and social recovery alongside physical outcomes.
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