Motivations, barriers and ethical understandings of healthcare student volunteers on a medical service trip: a mixed methods study

Abstract

BackgroundThe motivation to volunteer on a medical service trip (MST) may involve more than a simple desire for philanthropy. Some volunteers may be motivated by an intrinsic interest in volunteering in which the context of the volunteer activity is less important. Others may volunteer because the context of their volunteering is more important than their intrinsic interest in volunteering. Furthermore, MSTs may pose a variety of ethical problems that volunteers should consider prior to engaging in a trip. This study evaluated the motivations and barriers for graduate health care students volunteering for an MST to either the Dominican Republic or Mississippi. Volunteers’ understanding of some of the ethical issues associated with MSTs was also assessed.MethodsThirty-five graduate health professions students who volunteered on an MST were asked to complete an online survey. Students’ motivations and barriers for volunteering were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale and Fisher’s exact test. Ethical understanding of issues in volunteering was assessed using thematic analysis.ResultsStudents’ motivations for volunteering appeared to be related to the medical context of their service more than an inherent desire for volunteer work. Significant differences were seen in motivations and barriers for some student groups, especially those whose volunteer work had less opportunity for clinical service. Thematic analysis revealed two major themes and suggested that students had an empirical understanding that volunteer work could have both positive and negative effects.ConclusionsAn understanding of students’ motivations for volunteering on an MST may allow faculty to design trips with activities that effectively address student motivations. Although students had a basic understanding of some of the ethical issues involved, they had not considered the impact of a service group on the in-country partners they work with.

Motivations and Satisfaction of Volunteer Tourism for the Development of a Destination

“…The first factor was called "Professional and social development" and is the factor with the greatest explanatory capacity (27.4%) of the total variance. This factor was associated with the motivations related to the opportunity to make connections and find opportunities to employment, building work skills and social relationships, making new friends and waiting for social events, similar findings were found (Barron & Rihova, 2011;Chen & Chen, 2011;Polus & Bidder, 2016;Rovers et al, 2016). The second factor was called "Values and self-esteem" and explained 11.3% of the total variance.…”

“…Regarding the motivational dimensions, the findings show that the factors found in this destination using factorial analysis as a statistical technique, are seven: Professional and social development, values and self-esteem, empathy, protective, understanding, social, and recognition. Likewise, the findings show that the main factor in volunteer arrival is "Professional and social development" and is the factor with the greatest explanatory capacity (27.4%) of the total variance (Barron & Rihova, 2011;Chen & Chen, 2011;Polus & Bidder, 2016;Rovers et al, 2016).…”

“…Since the 1970s, this activity has gained strength as a reason for research, have been discussing whether it is altruism or a selfish sense that encourages tourists to do this activity. The latest research highlights the role of egoenhancement or personal sense as the main motivation for opting for this type of tourism (Chen & Chen, 2011;Wright, 2013;Polus & Bidder, 2016;Rovers et al, 2016).…”

“…On the other hand, Fuentes-Moraleda et al (2016) conclude that interaction with different cultures and personal enrichment are the main reasons for moving towards solidarity activities, unlike the professional development that in this study was one of the least valued attributes. An additional study carried out among medical students who volunteered their services as medical volunteers identified that their main motivations revolved around the opportunities and the context of the trip as such, leaving aside the simple fact of giving their time to help the others (Rovers et al, 2016). In contrast to the motivations few studies have been carried out to analyze the impact of volunteer tourism in the community or on the experience of the participant (Hallmann & Zehrer, 2016).…”

Short-term volunteer health trips: aligning host community preferences and organizer practices

“…One explanation is that the goals of sponsoring organizations go beyond (and in some cases barely include) providing service to poor communities [ 24 ]. For example, the primary, if sometimes unstated, focus of an STMM might be the formation of the volunteers themselves [ 25 , 26 ]. This goal may include exposing volunteers to the poverty of developing countries in order to raise awareness or building relationships across countries.…”