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General Abstract Objective: In April 2006, the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit (SLTU) became the first NHS transplant unit in the UK to offer the option of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (LDLT). This represented a unique opportunity to evaluate the functional and psychosocial impact of LDLT upon healthy donors and their recipients. Subsequent aims were to investigate the challenge of introducing LDLT in Scotland and to establish the perceived deterrents and attractions of the procedure. An additional aim was to evaluate the impact of Living Donor Kidney Transplantation (LDKT) upon donors and recipients. Design: A series of cross sectional and longitudinal studies were designed for the purpose of this thesis (3 quantitative, 2 qualitative, and 1 mixed methods). Method: Self report questionnaires were used in each of the quantitative studies, with the addition of neuropsychological computerized tests in two studies. Semi-structured interviews were employed in the qualitative studies. Main Findings: •Prior to its introduction general support for the option of LDLT was found, although it was highlighted that the risk involved was not well understood by the general public. •Since becoming available LDLT has not been a readily acceptable treatment option from the perspective of patients due to the perceived risk for the donor, but it may be considered as a “last option”. Family members were motivated to save their loved one’s life but the personal implications of donating resulted in reconsideration of LDLT. • Staff at the SLTU perceived a lack of family commitment in relation to LDLT, which is explained as a cultural factor contributing to the slow uptake of LDLT. In Scotland, a donation from a younger to an older generation is not easily accepted. This, in addition to patients’ optimism that a deceased donation will arrive, and the poor health of potential donors, is thought to have affected the uptake of LDLT. As has the unit’s conservative approach to the promotion of LDLT. This approach is the result of a perceived reduction in the need for LDLT and a preference to avoid the risk to a healthy donor and conduct transplants with deceased donations. • In over 3 years, only one couple completed LDLT. The recipient showed functional and psychosocial improvement from pre to post procedure, whilst the donor showed slight deterioration in aspects of quality of life 6 weeks post donation, which did not always completely return to a baseline level by 6 months. The donor made sacrifices to provide her husband with a fresh start to life and unmet expectations were found to effect quality of life. •Willingness to become a liver donor is not thought to be influenced by the frame of the information provided. •Like the LDLT donor, LDKT donors experience some functional and psychosocial deterioration at 6 weeks post donation, but donors largely recover by 6 months post donation. However, the anticipated benefit to recipients was not evident and may not be quantifiable until after 6 months post operation. Conclusion: This thesis has added to current knowledge on living organ donation and specifically represents the first psychological evaluation of a UK LDLT programme. The slow uptake of LDLT was unexpected and has resulted in informative, novel research.

In many countries, non-profit organisations provide enormous help to the public in the form of services, aid, education, advocacy, and many other humanitarian supports. However, despite the important work of many non-profit organisations in their fields, there has been little research about the role on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in facilitating aid distribution. In an effort to improve understanding of non-profit organisations working in charitable programmes, this research assesses the impact of ICTs in charitable organisations in the State of Kuwait. One of the purposes of this study is to provide guidelines to improve the use of ICTs in order to meet the needs of charities, their donors and beneficiaries, and their ability to comply with state legislation. This research uses a multi-methodology approach, which employs two system methodologies in tackling the research problem. The research methodologies that have been applied are Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Effective Technical and Human Implementation of Computer based System (ETHICS). The participants of the research included charities, authorities, staff, beneficiaries, and donors. The results showed that the current services and activities do not meet the needs and satisfaction of the charities, donors, and beneficiaries. The results also showed that the charities fall short in coping with the national and international compliance requirements. Consequently, there is a need for an appropriate change in systems and procedures, which include database system, communication, technical, confidentiality and security of donors and beneficiaries, co-operation and coordination, and awareness and attitudes of authorities. The study provides the changes needed to improve the current situation in Kuwaiti charities. As one of these changes, a novel design of a web-based Information Exchange System amongst Kuwaiti Charity Organisations (IESKCO) has been developed. This web-based system will combine all Kuwaiti charitable programmes in to one appropriate system, which offers the highest level of benefits at the lowest cost for their clients. In order to ensure that this new system meets the users' needs, an empirical evaluation method has been chosen to evaluate the IESKCO prototype. The results revealed that the users' needs are met using the application. This research has also led to conclusions and directions for further research on the impact of ICTs in charitable sectors.