Volunteer Experiences of Pediatric Palliative Care among University Students: A Phenomenological Approach
Pediatrics; Palliative Care; Palliative care; Hospice care; Volunteers
PURPOSE: This phenomenological analysis was conducted to explore the experiences of college student volunteers in the field of pediatric palliative care. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with nine study participants who had experience volunteering with children receiving pediatric palliative care. The study analysis was conducted using the Colaizzi method, a rigorous qualitative research method, to develop "intra-group" comparisons among the study participants. RESULTS: Through an analysis of the data, 51 themes, 18 theme clusters, and five main categories were derived. The results confirmed that the experience of university student volunteers in pediatric palliative care can be summarized as "awareness of the role of a volunteer," "difficulties encountered while volunteering," "efforts to overcome the difficulties of volunteer work," "personal reflection," and "awareness of life and death." CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used as a practical guide for the effective management of volunteers in the pediatric palliative care setting.
Moon YJ
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2022
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.14475/jhpc.2022.25.3.121" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.14475/jhpc.2022.25.3.121</a>
Effectiveness of a Volunteer Training Program on the Learning Support of Children in Hospice Palliative Care
pediatric palliative care; children with life-threatening conditions; children's hospice; learning support; sharing experiences; volunteers
BACKGROUND: Volunteers are expected to play a key role in children's hospice. However, there is a lack of information about how to cultivate effective volunteer training programs. OBJECTIVE: To verify the effect of a training program on volunteers' confidence in providing learning support and sharing experiences with children with life-threatening conditions and their families in a children's hospice. METHODS: In this pre-post study, participants were 48 undergraduate and graduate students from 3 universities in Japan. They received 5 lectures on children's hospice learning support. They evaluated the training program by rating their self-confidence in meeting each of the 15 program goals on a questionnaire. RESULTS: An exploratory factor analysis of the questionnaire yielded 12 goals in 4 factors: understanding of one's own and others' mental state, accommodating the learning needs of children with life-threatening conditions, understanding and accommodating the physical state of children with life-threatening conditions, and understanding the significance of children's hospice. A paired t test revealed that participants' self-confidence had increased significantly in 3 of these 4 factors after the program. However, the score for accommodating the learning needs of children with life-threatening conditions decreased but not significantly. CONCLUSION: Although it needs some improvements, the program was effective for improving volunteers' self-confidence in and understanding of learning support and sharing experiences with children with life-threatening conditions.
Niinomi K; Soejima M; Hiraga K; Kodama S; Okazaki S; Nakao S
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2019
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/1049909119860249" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/1049909119860249</a>
It's All About Communication: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Collaboration Between Volunteers and Staff in Pediatric Palliative Care
Communication; cooperation; Palliative Care; patient care team; Pediatrics; volunteers
BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary teamwork is considered central to pediatric palliative care. Although different studies state that volunteers play an essential role in palliative care, little is known about the collaboration between volunteers and staff. AIM: This study aims to explore and compare the perspectives of volunteers and staff regarding collaboration in a pediatric palliative care unit. DESIGN: A mixed-methods approach was chosen to appropriately reflect the complex aspects of collaboration. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Both face-to-face interviews with staff who work together with volunteers and a group discussion with all volunteers were conducted. These were supplemented by 2 questionnaires designed for this study that examined participants' characteristics and their estimation of what information volunteers need before they meet a patient. RESULTS: Nine staff members and 7 volunteers participated in this study. Their ideas of collaboration could be grouped into 3 categories: (i) factual level of collaboration, (ii) relationship level of collaboration, and (iii) overall appraisal of collaboration (suggestions for improvement). CONCLUSION: Communication can be considered a key factor in successful collaboration between volunteers and staff. Because many patients in pediatric palliative care units are not able to communicate verbally, good information flow between volunteers and staff is crucial for ensuring quality patient care. Moreover, communication is the key to establishing a team philosophy by clarifying roles and building relationships between volunteers and staff.
2018-01
Meyer D; Schmidt P; Zernikow B; Wager J
American Journal Of Hospice & Palliative Medicine
2018
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/1049909117751419" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">10.1177/1049909117751419</a>
Hospice Palliative Care Volunteers as Program and Patient/Family Advocates.
Advocacy; Families; Hospice; Palliative Care; Patients; Programs; Volunteers
The objectives of this study were to examine (1) the extent to which hospice palliative care volunteers are involved in program and patient/family advocacy, (2) volunteers' willingness to engage in program and patient/family advocacy, and (3) volunteers' perceived needs for training on how to be an effective advocate. Thirty-four hospice palliative care volunteers responded to the survey developed for this study. The majority of the volunteers surveyed consider themselves advocates for their programs and many of those, who have not already done so, would be willing to promote their program (eg, give a community presentation, talk to local media) if asked. Half of the volunteers were aware of unmet needs of the patients/families they supported, and just over one-third wanted to advocate on behalf of their patients/families but did not know what to do or where to go. Recommendations for volunteer training are made.
Claxton-Oldfield S, Blacklock K
The American Journal Of Hospice & Palliative Care
2017
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909116659464" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">10.1177/1049909116659464</a>