For kidney donors, social connection outweighs compensation3/27/2009 9:06:33 AM
A potential kidney donor is more motivated to donate a kidney based on a close relationship with the recipient than on a monetary incentive, according to research being presented at the National Kidney Foundation's Spring Clinical Meeting here today.
The research took on a personal note for lead investigator Dr. Harry L. Humphries when he was deemed medically ineligible to donate a kidney to his identical twin brother, who had lost function of both of his kidneys.
In the first phase of their research to "explore the social structures of kidney transplants and to empirically examine social distance and material incentives," Humphries and his associates at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas surveyed 73 undergraduate students using standardized scales.
Results showed that 95% of the respondents would donate a kidney to an immediate family member, 86% would donate to a close friend, and 84% would donate to a member of their extended family. Only 37% would be willing to donate a kidney to an acquaintance, and 26% to a stranger.
"Social distance is a major factor in kidney donation motivation," Humphries said. "This was not surprising, but we were surprised that prior researchers had not used a standardized instrument to test for this relationship."
Humphries recommends that kidney transplant candidates "cast a wide net utilizing acquaintances and social networks such as members of occupational, religious or ethnic groups, social clubs, schools, athletic associations, and so on, who might be interested in donating."
When looking at the motivations of potential donors, the research team found fairly strong support for living donors to be compensated for medical expenses and lost wages, and that a federal tax deduction would be appropriate. The subjects also endorsed altruistic giving with no compensation.
"The other major finding was that folks in our sample rejected the idea of a $60,000-$70,000 material incentive. The use of money seems to be distasteful to many potential donors," the researcher said.
The next phase of their research, which has been accepted for publication in the June 2009 issue of NKF's Journal of Nephrology Social Work, will actually take place at the Clinical Meetings, where the team plans to survey transplant surgeons, nephrologists, nurses and social workers on the motives that drive the unrelated kidney donor.
http://www.nephronline.com/news.asp?N_ID=2773
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Author
