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Introduction: Not only recipients but also donors can beaffected by liver transplantation. Only a small number of qualitative studies have explored donors' beliefs. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore donors' beliefs about liverfailure and transplantation surgery. Methods: The sample consisted of 16 living donors of livertransplant. An interview guide was followed during the interviews. Thematicanalysis was undertaken in parallel with interviews. Established conventions were followed foranalyzing anonymised interview transcripts inductively. Results: Participants' accounts can be grouped into anumber of beliefs including beliefs about liver failure, being a donor, transplantationand organ donation. Beliefs about renal failure included diverse explanationsfor liver failure (blamingoneself and doctors, senseless drug use, stress, God's will) and physical symptoms(yellowing, itching). Beliefs about being a donor includedreasons for being a donor (performing a good deed, being healed, not committing a sin), barriers to being a donor (beingcriticized by others, other people beingsenseless, ignorant and selfish), ways to manage these barriers (gettingloved ones' consent, following one's gut feeling), factors facilitating being adonor (having a few responsibilities and not having many people to leave behind).Beliefs about transplantation surgery included physical effects (pain, feeling stiff).Beliefs about organ donation included the views that organ donationshould be encouraged and awarenessshould be raised. Discussion: Somebeliefs could be interpreted in terms of existing psychologicaltheory. However, other beliefs which werenot reported before could be viewed as targetsfor psycho-educational programs.

Introduction: Liver transplantation affects not only recipients 'but also donors' lives. Little is known on the effect of liver failure and transplantation surgery on the donors' lives. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the donors' experienceof life. Methods: The sample consisted of 16 living donors of liver transplant. Thematic analysis was undertaken in parallel with interviews during which an interview guide was followed. Anonymised interview transcripts were analysed following established conventions. Results: Findings showed that participants evaluated their life in terms of limitations, awareness of the need for lifestyle changes, emotional changes, changes in character and mixed relationships. Emotional changes included both negative and positive emotions (feeling reputable, feeling like being born again, rewarded in after life). Changes in character included both worsening of character (becoming half human, turning into an aggressive person) and positive changes in character (becoming more of a believer, a stronger person, a humanist). Mixed relationships included feeling supported by loved ones and doctors, reduction of burden of care because of lack of support, formation of a special bond between donors and recipients, not feeling supported by potential supporters and worsening of close relationships. Discussion: Some findings (experience of negative emotions, lack of support from others) could be interpreted in terms of existing psychological theory. Other findings (worsening aspects of character, experience of positive emotions, improvement in aspects of character, formation of a special bond, worsening of close relationships) not reported before could be viewed as targets for educational programs for donors.