Premium
Understanding donation experiences of unspecified (altruistic) kidney donors
Author(s) -
Clarke Alexis,
Mitchell Annie,
Abraham Charles
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1111/bjhp.12048
Subject(s) - donation , negotiation , altruism (biology) , social psychology , interpersonal communication , grounded theory , psychology , interpersonal relationship , organ donation , kidney donation , health care , qualitative research , public relations , medicine , sociology , transplantation , kidney transplantation , political science , law , social science , surgery
Objectives Kidney donation from a living donor to an unknown recipient has been legal in the UK since 2006. Yet there is little research into the experiences of unspecified kidney donors ( UKD s) in interaction with the health care systems. Design This article explores the experiences of 14 UKD s recruited through four regional transplant co‐ordinating centres in England. At interview, they were invited to share their donation stories and discuss the antecedents, social, and psychological processes involved. Interviews were audio‐taped and transcribed. Methods Transcripts were analysed using a grounded theory approach employing a constant comparison methodology. Themes emerging from the data were named to form categories organized around the central focus of the research, forming an analytical story of UKD s' experiences. Results Two major categories emerged: ‘connected to others’ and ‘uneasy negotiations with others’. ‘Connected to others’ encompasses the motivations and psychological and social consequences of UKD . ‘Uneasy negotiations with others’ refer to the concerns and conflicts that arose during the donation process. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of social relationships on the process and outcomes of UKD . These UKD s report both intra‐ and interpersonal benefits from donation. The donation process, however, also created interpersonal stress, and conflicting messages about the acceptability of their donation were experienced in UKD s' personal lives and in their interactions with health care services. Findings are discussed with reference to the wider literature on UKD and altruism and in relation to implications for clinical practice. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject?Unspecified living kidney donation is an under‐researched area with only three research papers published worldwide that report on the motivations and experiences of donors. These studies indicate that donors endorse pro‐social values and receive positive interpersonal and intrapersonal benefits from donation.What does this study add?UKD s' experiences are made explicit and provide a framework for future research. Social connections (capital) are an important precursor to and outcome from donation. Assumptions of pathological motivations were encountered by donors in their personal life and within the NHS .