Kidney Transplantation, Nephrectomy,Kidney Donation
Conditions
Keywords
Incentive, Living donor, Living donor nephrectomy, Living kidney donation, Gratitude
Brief summary
Kidney transplantation is widely recognized as the best treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. However, its development is limited by the persistent shortage of available organs. Living donor kidney transplantation offers the best functional and survival outcomes, yet the number of procedures remains insufficient. Living kidney donation relies on a voluntary and altruistic act by a healthy individual who accepts surgery without direct medical benefit. This act of generosity raises important questions regarding how society acknowledges and values such commitment. The lack of formal recognition may contribute to the psychological burden experienced by some donors and may not adequately reflect the gratitude of the medical community and society toward them. This study aims to explore the perceptions of living kidney donors regarding the potential implementation of a symbolic form of recognition (for instance, a commemorative medal) offered after donation. The hypothesis is that such recognition could improve donors' post-donation experience and strengthen the societal value associated with living organ donation, while fully respecting ethical principles prohibiting any financial reward. This is a qualitative, monocentric study based on semi-structured interviews with individuals who have donated a kidney. The interviews will focus on donors' motivations, their personal experience of donation, and their opinions about different possible forms of post-donation recognition. Interviews will be recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and perspectives. The main endpoint is the identification of thematic categories related to donors' perception of post-donation recognition and its potential impact on their experience. Secondary objectives include exploring donors' expectations regarding societal gratitude, their views on the symbolic value of such recognition, and the potential influence on future donor engagement. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the ethical reflection surrounding the acknowledgment of living donors, support initiatives promoting non-financial recognition, and help develop respectful and meaningful ways of expressing societal gratitude toward those who make the gift of life possible.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSemi-structured qualitative interview
Participants will take part in a one-on-one semi-structured qualitative interview exploring their experiences and perceptions related to living kidney donation and potential forms of post-donation recognition. The interview guide includes open-ended questions addressing: * Personal motivations for donation; * Emotional and relational experiences throughout the donation process; * Ethical perceptions of living donation; * Views on symbolic recognition (e.g., commemorative medal, public acknowledgment, ceremony); * Perceptions of paired kidney donation (KPD); * Social representations of living donation in their personal environment and in society. Interviews will last approximately 45 to 60 minutes and will be conducted either in person at Hôpital Saint-Louis or via secure videoconference. All interviews will be recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymized, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis (NVivo or equivalent software).
Sponsors
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Monocentric cohort of Living donors of Kidney
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Individuals who have donated a kidney at Hôpital Saint-Louis between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, or are currently engaged in a living kidney donation process with nephrectomy scheduled before June 30, 2026. * Age ≥ 18 years. * Able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Refusal or opposition to participate in the study. * Individuals under legal protection (guardianship, curatorship, or legal safeguard). * Individuals deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision. * Individuals under 18 years of age. * Kidney donation performed in a hospital other than Hôpital Saint-Louis.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Themes related to donor perceptions of post-donation recognition | At baseline | Inductive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with living kidney donors, identifying key themes and subthemes related to their perception of post-donation recognition or symbolic rewards (e.g., commemorative medal, public acknowledgment). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Motivations for Donation | At baseline | Identification of personal, relational, or altruistic motivations that led participants to consider or complete living kidney donation. A semi-structured interview lasting 30-60 minutes, either in person during another scheduled treatment or via videoconference. |
| Experience of the Donation Pathway | At baseline | Evaluation of participants' experiences throughout the donation process, including emotional journey, perceived support, and acknowledgment by healthcare professionals. A semi-structured interview lasting 30-60 minutes, either in person during another scheduled treatment or via videoconference. |
| Perceptions of Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) | At baseline | Exploration of participants' views and emotional responses toward kidney paired donation programs, including ethical and logistical aspects. A semi-structured interview lasting 30-60 minutes, either in person during another scheduled treatment or via videoconference. |
| Social Representations of Living Donation | At baseline | Investigation of how donors perceive societal and familial views about living kidney donation, including stigma, admiration, or misunderstanding. A semi-structured interview lasting 30-60 minutes, either in person during another scheduled treatment or via videoconference. |
| Barriers or Reluctance Toward Kidney Paired Donation | At baseline | Identification of logistical, emotional, or ethical barriers expressed by participants regarding paired exchange donation. A semi-structured interview lasting 30-60 minutes, either in person during another scheduled treatment or via videoconference. |
| Ethical Perceptions of Living Donation and Symbolic Recognition | At baseline | Analysis of ethical reflections expressed by donors regarding the concept of recognition, symbolic rewards, or institutional gratitude (e.g., medals, diplomas, ceremonies). A semi-structured interview lasting 30-60 minutes, either in person during another scheduled treatment or via videoconference. |
Contacts
Primary ContactEmilien Seizilles de Mazancourt, MD
Backup ContactJérôme Lambert, MD PhD
Outcome results
None listed