Living-Related Kidney Donors: A Multicenter Study of Donor Education, Socioeconomic Adjustment, and Rehabilitation

Marc D. Smith, Dean F. Kappell, Michael A. Province, Barry A. Hong, Alan M. Robson, Sue Dutton, Theda Guzman, Judy Hoff, Linda Shelton, Elizabeth Cameron, Wilma Emerson, Neal R. Glass, Jean Hopkins, Corbin Peterson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

107 Scopus citations

Abstract

To determine the consequences of living-related kidney donation, a study was conducted of 536 donors whose nephrectomies had been performed at nine geographically dispersed centers during the past 12 years. The data demonstrated that > 84.0% of the donors thought they had been adequately informed regarding all aspects of donation, and < 15.0% reported being pressured in their decision. Only two serious medical complications were directly attributable to the surgery, > 92.0% of the donors believed their health had not been adversely affected by donation, and 96.8% reaffirmed their decision regardless of the graft's success or the financial distress they experienced (P > .05). However, > 14.0% experienced direct pressure, particularly not to donate. Donation also appeared to stress previously troubled marriages, especially among donors without a religious affiliation, who were pressured to donate by their families, or who borrowed from family members (P < .05). Substantial unreimbursed expenses (≥ $1,000) were incurred by 43 donors, and 23.2% of all donors reported that donation caused a financial hardship.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)223-233
Number of pages11
JournalAmerican Journal of Kidney Diseases
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1986

Keywords

  • Renal transplantation
  • health status
  • living-related donors
  • rehabilitation
  • socioeconomic status

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