Fifteen organ donation volunteers were identified as qualified and invited to participate. Among these 15 organ donation volunteers, five interrupted interviews and withdrew from the study. The remaining 10 completed all interviews.The demographics of the participants are listed in Table 1.
Theme 1:Spiritual Understanding
This topic mainly explores the interrelationship and commonalities between spirituality and organ donation willingness. Divided into three sub themes:Love & Life Extension、Dedication to society、Death elevates life.
Sub-theme 1:Love & Life Extension——Most respondents spoke of love and life when talking about their understanding of spirituality.They considered it sacred to keep love and life alive.
“After experiencing COVID19, I truly realized that love can stand against all odds. Life is so small in the face of natural disasters, but love is so great!”(P9)
“I remember a doctor a long time ago saying, would you rather be ashes or a seed. The seed would represent the continuation of life.”(P2)
Sub-theme 2:Dedication to society——China is a socialist country with the people's national dictatorship, the covid-19 pandemic made the people aware of the importance and necessity of social solidarity.
“I'm from Wuhan, a lot of doctors and nurses rushed to Wuhan that year, when COVID-19 was still not under control, a lot of doctors and nurses died, I couldn't help much at that time, I can't return the favor.”(P3)
"For me, the meaning of life is to give, I guess, that's what we are taught from a young age, and I do have something to gain from volunteering."(P7)
Sub-theme 3:Death elevates life ——Organ donor volunteers are more thoughtful about life and death, and believe that life is more valuable because it is limited.
"Life is precious because it is finite, and it is the finite things that people cherish more and want to do something more meaningful."(P3)
Theme 2 The Supporting Role of Spirituality
Organ donation is not only an altruistic behavior, but can also be internalized into one's own spiritual ideals through spiritual effects, thereby achieving self-interest.
Sub-theme 1:Become a spiritual motivation for a better life ——The desire to donate organs is not only an idea to help others for the donor volunteers themselves, but also helps the donor volunteers to internalize their own spiritual strength through spirituality, and organ donation can be a spiritual motivation for them when they face trials and tribulations, difficulties and frustrations in their lives.
“In order to donate a qualified organ, I'll eat healthy and exercise.”(P1)
Some of the organ donation volunteers have had doubts and negative thoughts about life, and signing an organ donation agreement can help them overcome their negative feelings and abandon their negative thoughts.
“In 2020, my new clothing store went bankrupt, I have nothing, all day is also closed in the house can not go out, at that time I want to die, and then thought that after the death of the world have to leave something, so the online registration of organ donation volunteers, that is the moment, I understand, I am not afraid of death, I'm not afraid of, this thing in the netherworld to save my life!But do good, do not ask the future.”(P6)
"I am a very negative person, my life is meaningless, I want to end my life countless times, but people who commit suicide can't donate their organs, so the will to donate my organs after death is my motivation to live, I guess.(P4).
Sub-theme 2:self-transcendence ——Organ donation can help organ donor volunteers revisit and re-establish what they want to pursue in life.
"My mom and dad passed away a few years ago after contracting a new crown and died with tubes all over their bodies. That time made me realize that money can't exchange for life, and I now pay more and more attention to my body and mind instead of my previous preoccupation with making money. The fragility and preciousness of life made me choose organ donation after death, and understand that life is far more material than anything else."(P9)
"I respect a medical professor, he died and donated his body, the whole life is dedicated to the cause of medicine, people in this life can not just want to money, but also always want to some spiritual things, right."(P10)
Theme 3 The Spiritual Emotional Value of Organ Donation
The emotions derived from spirituality are varied and complex.
Sub-theme 1:Sense of accomplishment and pride——Signing an organ donation agreement creates a sense of accomplishment and pride.
"Since I was a child, I've always heard that people have a death, or heavier than mountain, or lighter than a feather. If I can donate my organs after I die, then I'll be considered a great man, and I'm quite proud of that."(P5)
"I've kind of lived a mediocre life, not a celebrity, and no one will remember me in the future except my children, and after signing this agreement to donate my organs after death, I feel that I'm a valuable person, and I'm satisfied with my life."(P8)
Sub-theme 2:Sense of complexity and ambivalence——Organ donation brings with it a sense of self-realization as well as a sense of complexity and ambivalence.Chinese people tend to have a strong sense of family, and organ donation is not only a personal decision, but more like a family decision.
"Undoubtedly in the eyes of others. I'm more of a selfless and noble person because I chose to be an organ donor, but to my parents, my decision to do so may have been selfish and even cruel to them. Is this a realization of what life is all about?" (P7)
"I agree with the organ donation thing, but I don't know if my choice like this will make my family feel more painful or difficult after my death in the future? If it makes my family feel more pain and embarrassment, is it the right decision for me to make?"(P4)