The life experiences of living liver donors: A qualitative meta-synthesis

Abstract

As living liver transplantation has become a standard treatment method with a high success rate, many studies have investigated the experiences of living liver donors; however, their results have not been integrated. This qualitative meta-synthesis aimed to explore the life experiences of living liver donors to provide an in-depth understanding of meaningful common experiences. A comprehensive search on qualitative studies published in English or Korean was conducted in October 2021. The PRISMA statement was used for reporting each phase of the literature search, and MAXQDA2020 software was used for data analysis. Data synthesis was conducted using the three-step thematic synthesis method suggested by Thomas and Harden. Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed five main themes: "Becoming an earnest donor," "Transitioning from a potential donor to an actual donor," "Difficulties in returning to normal life," "Re-examining the meaning of donation," and "Wishes for prospective donors." The study emphasizes that living liver donors need medical attention and intervention from multilateral perspectives as well as the need for systematic change in the society to enhance support for donors. This review provides comprehensive insights on how individuals became the living liver donor and the important aspects of living donation and other considerations in an integrated manner. Transplant teams, including nurses and coordinators, should have a comprehensive understanding of physical, psychological, and social experiences of donors ranging from decision-making to post donation health management.