The psychosocial impact of donating a kidney: long-term follow-up from a urology based center.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a psychosocial followup of living kidney donors from 1983 to 1995.


METHODS
A new questionnaire about donor satisfaction and the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey, a standardized measure of health related quality of life, were completed by 167 donors (67% response rate).


RESULTS
Of respondents 90% would make the same choice again and 83% would strongly encourage others to donate. However, 15% of respondents believed that donating had impacted negatively on their health and 23% reported negative financial consequences. Respondent health related quality of life was not impaired. The strongest correlates of donor dissatisfaction included a conflicted initial relationship with the recipient, believing that information given preoperatively had been inadequate and perceived damage to health or finances.


CONCLUSIONS
Only a minority of living kidney donors suffer psychosocial morbidity. Better psychological preparation for surgery and more consistent followup could decrease negative outcomes further.
Schover
L R
LR
Department of Urology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195-5041, USA.
Streem
S B
SB
Boparai
N
N
Duriak
K
K
Novick
A C
AC
D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology*