Factors Affecting Iranian Family Donors' Motivation for Kidney Donation



Farahani ZB^{1, 2, 3} ; Esmaeili M^{1, 3} ; Salsali M^{1, 3} ; Nayeri ND^{1, 3}
Source: Acta Medica Mediterranea Published:2016

Abstract

Aim: This study sought to explore factors affecting Iranian family donors' motivation for kidney donation. Background: Family donor kidney transplant is among the most ideal treatment options for chronic renal failure due to the greater compatibility of donor and recipient's human leukocyte antigen. Consequently, identifying factors affecting family donors' motivation for kidney donation is essential for members of transplant teams, particularly nurses, and can help them adopt strategies for encouraging family members to donate. Methods: This was a descriptive qualitative study to which fourteen family donors (six females and eight males) were recruited purposively from transplantation centers of all teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The study data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and were analyzed by using the conventional content analysis approach. Findings: Factors affecting Iranian family donors' motivation for kidney donation fell into three main categories including feelings of love and responsibility, spiritual motives, and greater success rate of family donor transplant. The first category consisted of the two sub-categories of close and constant companionship and inability to tolerate recipient's discomfort. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that both personal factors (such as feeling of responsibility and spiritual motives) and organizational factors (such as informing family members about the importance and the benefits of family donation) are among the main motives for kidney donation by family members. Employing strategies for promoting these factors could facilitate the process of kidney donation by family members.