A Qualitative Study on Gratitude and Recognition Toward Living Kidney Donors
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Semi-structured qualitative interview.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Kidney Transplantation, Nephrectomy,Kidney Donation. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
GRAtitude et Considération Envers Les Donneurs Vivants du Rein
Overview
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
- Behavioral Semi-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 acknowle
Primary outcome measures
- Themes related to donor perceptions of post-donation recognition [Time frame: At baseline]
Secondary outcome measures (6)
- Perceptions of Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) [Time frame: At baseline]
- Initial Motivations for Donation [Time frame: At baseline]
- Experience of the Donation Pathway [Time frame: At baseline]
- Ethical Perceptions of Living Donation and Symbolic Recognition [Time frame: At baseline]
- Social Representations of Living Donation [Time frame: At baseline]
- Barriers or Reluctance Toward Kidney Paired Donation [Time frame: At baseline]
Eligibility criteria
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.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Other
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07254546 · APHP251133