A Qualitative Study on Gratitude and Recognition Toward Living Kidney Donors

NCT07254546 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: APHP251133
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

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.

Conditions

Kidney Transplantation; Nephrectomy,Kidney Donation

Keywords

Incentive; Living donor; Living donor nephrectomy; Living kidney donation; Gratitude

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Themes related to donor perceptions of post-donation recognition

  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).

  At baseline

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Perceptions of Kidney Paired Donation (KPD)

  At baseline

• Initial Motivations for Donation

  At baseline

• Experience of the Donation Pathway

  At baseline

• Ethical Perceptions of Living Donation and Symbolic Recognition

  At baseline

• Social Representations of Living Donation

  At baseline

Study Arms (1)

Living donors of Kidney

OTHER

This cohort includes individuals who have donated a kidney at Hôpital Saint-Louis between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, as well as individuals currently engaged in a living kidney donation process with a nephrectomy planned before June 30, 2026, in the same institution. Participants will take part in semi-structured qualitative interviews exploring their perceptions and experiences related to post-donation recognition.

Behavioral: Semi-structured qualitative interview

Interventions

Semi-structured qualitative interview BEHAVIORAL

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).

Living donors of Kidney

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris: lead

Central Study Contacts

Emilien Seizilles de Mazancourt, MD

CONTACT

+33(0)1.42.49.96.14; emilien.seizillesdemazancourt@aphp.fr

Jérôme Lambert, MD PhD

CONTACT

0142499742; jerome.lambert@u-paris.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Monocentric cohort of Living donors of Kidney

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 18, 2025
• First Posted: November 28, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Last Updated: November 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11