Objective: To determine the quality of life (QoL) of donors who have undergone nephrectomy for living donor kidney transplantation at Srinagarind Hospital, using the Thai version of the Short-Form, 36-item, health survey (SF-36).
Material and method: The SF-36 questionnaires were sent by mail to 93 living donors who underwent nephrectomy between Jan 1, 1990 and Dec 31, 2008. The first part collected demographic data and the donor/recipient relationship, the second surveyed QoL, and the third asked about decision-making, donation-related stress and feedback.
Results: Forty-nine questionnaires were returned completed (30 women; 19 men: mean age 44.2 +/- 9.5 (range, 28-65) years). Thirty-one participants (61%) were siblings of the recipients. The QoL scores were not significantly different from the general Thai population; albeit nominally higher for mental health and social function. Upon reflection, only 5 (10%) had second thoughts.
Conclusion: Donor nephrectomy did not affect QoL; thus, from that perspective living kidney transplantation is a suitable procedure for donors.