Table 3.
Number (%) of websites that covered each living kidney donation topic
| Living Kidney Donation Topic | n | (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Financial risks of donation | 19 | (90) |
| Donor lost wages/income | 17 | (81) |
| Personal expenses (e.g., travel, lodging, etc.) related to donation may not be covered | 16 | (76) |
| Caregiver or companion lost wages/income | 2 | (10) |
| 2. Alternative procedures or treatments available to the transplant patient | 18 | (86) |
| 3. Benefits of LDKT versus alternative treatments for the transplant patient | 18 | (86) |
| Improved quality of life | 12 | (57) |
| Planned surgery | 12 | (57) |
| Shorter waiting time for transplant | 10 | (48) |
| Reduced risk of delayed graft function | 9 | (43) |
| Longer graft survival | 8 | (38) |
| Limited or no dialysis exposure | 8 | (38) |
| Planned desensitization, if necessary | 8 | (38) |
| Reduced risk of rejection | 8 | (38) |
| Longer patient survival | 6 | (29) |
| More cost-effective | 3 | (14) |
| Transplant performed at time of optimal health | 2 | (10) |
| Shorter hospitalization | 1 | (5) |
| 4. Surgical risks of donation | 18 | (86) |
| Pain and discomfort | 16 | (76) |
| Infection | 16 | (76) |
| Death | 15 | (71) |
| Bleeding (blood loss) | 14 | (67) |
| Injury to surrounding tissues/organs | 11 | (52) |
| Hernia | 10 | (48) |
| 5. Kidney paired donation (kidney exchanges) | 18 | (86) |
| 6. Donor evaluation process | 17 | (82) |
| 7. Donation eligibility criteria | 17 | (82) |
| 8. Donation decision must be voluntary and/or free from coercion/inducement | 17 | (82) |
| 9. Donor evaluation and surgery costs are covered by the transplant center or transplant patient’s insurance | 16 | (76) |
| 10. Number of patients on the deceased donor transplant waiting list | 15 | (71) |
| 11. Medical risks of donation | 15 | (71) |
| High blood pressure (hypertension) | 12 | (57) |
| Future kidney failure may be higher compared to non-donors | 12 | (57) |
| Permanent loss of kidney function | 9 | (43) |
| Proteinuria | 9 | (43) |
| Pregnancy complications | 8 | (38) |
| Fatigue | 8 | (38) |
| 12. Typical length of hospital stay for donor | 15 | (71) |
| 13. Typical recovery time after donation | 15 | (71) |
| 14. Process for anonymous (non-directed) donation | 14 | (67) |
| 15. Benefits of living donation for donor | 14 | (67) |
| 16. Number of annual living kidney donors in US | 13 | (62) |
| 17. Financial resources may be available to donor | 13 | (62) |
| National Living Donor Assistance Center | 12 | (57) |
| American Kidney Fund | 5 | (24) |
| American Transplant Foundation | 4 | (19) |
| Other(s) | 10 | (48) |
| 18. Acquisition or transfer of human organ for anything of value is illegal | 13 | (62) |
| 19. Common donation exclusion criteria | 13 | (62) |
| 20. Social risks of donation | 13 | (62) |
| Impact on ability to obtain, maintain, or afford health insurance | 11 | (52) |
| Impact on ability to obtain, maintain, or afford life insurance | 11 | (52) |
| Future health problems may not be covered by recipient’s insurance | 9 | (43) |
| Changes in relationship with recipient | 5 | (24) |
| Changes in family dynamics or other relationships | 5 | (24) |
| 21. Psychological risks of donation | 12 | (57) |
| Feelings of regret | 10 | (48) |
| Depression | 10 | (48) |
| Anxiety | 10 | (48) |
| Body image changes | 6 | (29) |
| Lifestyle changes | 3 | (14) |
| 22. Donor candidate can confidentially decline donation at any time during evaluation process | 11 | (52) |
| 23. Eligibility criteria may vary across transplant programs | 10 | (48) |
| 24. Donor candidate will be assigned an independent living donor advocate (role described) | 9 | (43) |
| 25. Donors receive priority on waiting list if kidney transplant needed in future | 8 | (38) |
| 26. Donor health information obtained during evaluation is confidential and private | 7 | (33) |
| 27. Typical waiting times for transplant patients on the deceased donor transplant list | 7 | (33) |
| 28. Importance of follow-up at specified intervals for 2 years after donation (programs required to submit follow-up data) | 7 | (33) |
| 29. Benefits of pre-emptive transplant for the transplant patient | 4 | (19) |
| 30. Donor candidate is evaluated by a different team than that for the transplant patient | 3 | (14) |