Concerns and Challenges of Living Donors When Making Decisions on Organ Donation: A Qualitative Study

Mental concerns of living donors can be a solid barrier to logical and informed decision‑making for organ donation. The present study explores living donors’ mental concerns and problems during the process of decision‑making for organ donation. 

The present study was performed using qualitative content analysis. Twenty‑one participants were selected by purposive sampling. The data were collected and recorded through semistructured interviews and analyzed by MAX Qualitative Data Analysis software 12, based on Graneheim and Lundman’s contractual content analysis method.

Data analysis extracted 425 codes, 13 subcategories, 3 main categories, and 1 core theme (conflict between doubt and certainty). The three main categories were individual barriers and concerns (faced by the donor), interpersonal concerns and barriers (experienced by the family), and socio‑organizational concerns and barriers (at the community).

Based on the results, donors have significant concerns and face major problems when deciding on organ donation. Therefore, health‑care professionals should take into account organ donors’ concerns, raise awareness of donor associations, and formulate policies to increase living donors’ satisfaction.