The Pattern of Decision Making to Donate a Living Kidney

Yi, Myung Sun

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore decision making phenomenon of living kidney donation experienced by kidney donors. Data were collected through semi-structured indepth interviews from 12 kidney donors. All interviewes were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Constant comparative analysis was used to analyze the data with NUDIST4.0 software program. The core category emerged was "wish to give (a kidney)". "Wish to give" in the deliberation process have effects on the execution of kidney donation. Based on the degree of "wish to give", three distinct patterns were identified: Voluntary, compromising, and passive. The voluntary decision making was the most frequent one, while the passive the least. The degree of "wish to give" was influenced by intimacy between the donor and the receipient, geographical locations, economical efficiency of kidney transplantation, and religion. Each pattern was explained by describing interfering and facilitating factors as well as other issues occured in the decision making process. The results of this study will help nurses make effective nursing intervention by understanding the characteristics of decision- making patterns and decision-making process to donate a living kidney.