Pre-operative anxiety, post-operative mobilization, and regret incross-and-normal liver transplant donors: A comparativeanalysis

This study was conducted to compare preoperative anxiety levels, postoperative mobilization status, and regret levels in cross-donor and normal liver transplant donors. The research, a prospective, analytical, and observational study, was conducted at the Turgut Özal Medical Center Liver Transplant Institute of İnönü University between September 2025 and May 2026. The sample consisted of 100 living donors, 50 cross-donor and 50 normal donors. Data were collected using a Patient Identification Form, Surgery-Specific Anxiety Scale (SAS), Decision Regret Scale (DRS), Mobilization Data Collection Form, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted by the researcher in the ward during the preoperative period and in the intensive care unit during the postoperative period. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann Whitney U test, and Chi-square test were used in the analysis of the data. The study found no significant differences between groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics (p>0.05). However, the time to decide on organ donation was longer in the normal transplant group (p=0.006). The level of anxiety specific to surgery was moderate-low, and higher in the cross-transplant group compared to the normal group. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of decision regret scores (p>0.05); however, a significant difference was found in the time to first postoperative mobilization (MB1) (p=0.023). VAS scores decreased significantly over time in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, it was determined that preoperative anxiety was moderate-low in both normal and cross-liver transplant donors, decision regret levels were similar, but there were differences in decision-making time, and postoperative pain levels were significantly reduced in both groups. KEYWORDS: Liver Transplantation, Anxiety, Mobilization and Decision Regret