Decision-making, regret, and quality of life in living organ donors: a cross-sectional study

The aim of this study is to identify factors influencing living donors' decision-making, regret, and quality of life. This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted between June and October 2023 and included 128 living liver or other organ donors who were at least three months post-surgery. Data were collected using a questionnaire, the Decision Regret Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form. The mean age of the participants was 49.48 ± 11.43, 75% of them decided to donate on their own, the mean score on the Decision Regret Scale was 22.5 ± 16.25, and the mean score for general quality of life perception was 63.59 ± 14.2. It was determined that there was a moderate negative correlation between the mean scores of the Decision Regret Scale and the mean scores of the physical, social, and psychological quality of life subdomains. The findings indicated that psychological quality of life and the length of the donation decision-making period were the primary determinants of regret levels (p < 0.05). The psychological well-being of living organ donors and the duration of the decision-making process can influence post-donation regret, which in turn has a direct impact on donors' quality of life.