Enhancing frontline workforce volunteerism through exploration of motivations and impact during the COVID-19 pandemic

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102605Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Frontline healthcare volunteers during a pandemic are motivated by altruism, sense of duty and new experiences.

  • Volunteer experiences stimulate self-growth, leadership, and societal awareness.

  • Personal narratives and senior role-modelling can enhance existing volunteer recruitment strategies.

Abstract

Objectives

During a pandemic, healthcare workers are requested to volunteer for potentially high-risk frontline duties outside of usual hospital and primary care clinic settings in order to better serve vulnerable communities. Examination of volunteer motivations and impact of such experiences can drive more effective pandemic response efforts with regards to volunteer recruitment and retention. This study aims to explore the motivational factors underlying healthcare worker volunteerism in COVID-19 pandemic response operations in the community, and to describe the impact of such operations on volunteers, in order to highlight important volunteer recruitment strategies and ensure volunteer sustainability.

Methods

A qualitative phenomenological approach is taken in this study through the use of semi-structured individual interviews of healthcare staff, to provide in-depth exploration of personal experiences. Staff were purposefully sampled to ensure diversity of personal and professional backgrounds.

Results

A total of 35 staff, consisting of 17 males and 18 females from medical, nursing, allied health, and administrative backgrounds, who participated in COVID-19 community-based operations in migrant worker dormitories and swab isolation facilities were interviewed. The main motivational factors were volunteer functions of values, understanding and enhancement. Participants were positively impacted on personal and professional levels, including self-growth, societal awareness, as well as skills development in leadership and team management.

Conclusions

Healthcare organizations should consider volunteer functions in matching individual motivations to volunteer opportunities. Additionally, personal narratives and role-modelling by senior staff can serve as useful adjunct strategies to volunteer recruitment, while providing pre-pandemic preparedness, reassurance of safety, support, and recognition.

Keywords

COVID-19
Staff volunteerism
Staff motivations and impact
Qualitative study

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