Challenges in Kidney Donation Faced by Relatives in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Objective: Kidney donation from a relative is an ideal option for transplantation that would improve the recipients’ quality of life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the challenges in the donation process faced by kidney donors related to patients. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive qualitative study that uses a content analysis approach. In this study, 16 relative donors from kidney transplant centers of all the educational hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using face-to-face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results: The data analysis results led to the extraction of three main themes: initial confrontation, hospitalization, and endless concerns. The second theme of the study had two sub-themes: being ignored and the rights of the donor. Conclusion: The challenges faced during the donation process were difficulties in performing tests, difficulties during hospitalization, and endless concerns. These challenges eventually become bearable for the donors because of their love for the recipient and because they totally forget themselves and their needs during the donation process. Cite this article as: Farahani FB, Esmaeili M, Dehghan-Nayeri N, Salsali M. Challenges in Kidney Donation Faced by Relatives in Iran: A Qualitative Study. Turk J Nephrol 2020; 29(1): 39-44.