title: From donation to everyday life: Living kidney donors' experiences three months after donation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As the number of patients with end stage kidney disease continues to rise internationally, living kidney donation remains a favourable treatment option. Long waiting times on dialysis can be avoided and short and long-term outcomes are better, when compared with deceased donor transplantation. Living kidney donation is a safe procedure for healthy individuals who have completed a rigorous screening programme. Significant experiences can occur during the recovery period.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate donors' experiences of donation and their recovery period, in the first three months after donation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Open interviews were conducted three months after donation. Data were interpreted and discussed in accordance with Ricoeur's text interpretation theory on three levels: naïve reading, structural analysis and critical interpretation and discussion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The donation process was experienced as an 'expedition', including preparations, the operation, recovery and everyday life. Positive feelings were challenging to describe; however health troubles and vulnerability were evident. A closer relationship and a need to follow the recipient's progress implied that patient and donor felt they were a part of each other. Support from relatives was important but could also be a burden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The kidney donation process is experienced as being like on an expedition, involving positive feelings, vulnerability, a closer patient-donor relationship and challenges around family relationships. It is essential that nurses are aware of the complexity of the situation and focus on the impact of the process, to support and facilitate donors' needs.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Nursing, University of Southern Denmark Department of Nephrology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Agerskov
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Randers Regional Hospital, Randers, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette Spliid
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ludvigsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bistrup
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Nursing, University of Southern Denmark, Funen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Birthe D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D019520:Living Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement
keywords: Living kidney donation; Patient experience; Phenomenology; Qualitative