Spirituality and religiosity of non-directed (altruistic) living kidney donors.
Ariella Maghen, Grecia B Vargas, Sarah E Connor and 6 others
PMID 29266612WHAT IT FOUND
Sixteen of 30 non-directed kidney donors described faith or spirituality shaping donation: upbringing motivated donation, prayer and religious leaders eased risk concerns, and faith supported post-donation contact.
These are donor experiences, not evidence an intervention works.
Key findings
01Spirituality and religiosity emerged as a major theme in 16 of the 30 donors' interviews.
02Ten donors said religious upbringing and beliefs motivated their decision to donate.
03Five donors used prayer and religious leaders to support donation decisions, and three said faith enhanced post-donation relationships.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Telephone interviews limited the ability to see body language, facial expressions, or the environment. The sample was not racially or ethnically diverse: all but one participant were non-Hispanic White. Self-selection bias was possible because only donors willing to discuss their experience may have contacted the study. The interview guide did not directly ask about spirituality and religiosity; the theme emerged during analysis. The thematic analysis focused on 16 of 30 donors who mentioned spirituality and religiosity.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that asking donors about spirituality or religiosity improves donation care or outcomes. Only 16 of 30 donors mentioned these topics, and the study did not test an intervention.