Willingness of Healthcare Students in Vietnam to Volunteer During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Healthcare students play an important role in volunteering activity, often addressing staff shortages. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the willingness of students to volunteer in contribution to the pandemic response, especially in Vietnam, has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with the willingness of healthcare students to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. For this, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted, between June 7th and July 6th, 2021, among healthcare students from 10 fields of study at the largest public university of medicine and pharmacy in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Of 2032 respondents, 1473 (72.5%) reported that they would be willing to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of the students reported having a desire to volunteer in non-patient contact activities such as data entry (65.9%) and logistics (57.7%). Whereas less than 50% of the participants were willing to volunteer with activities involving patients. Year of education, study field, educational format, living arrangements, health status self-perception, chronic illness possession, COVID-19 fear level, past volunteering experience in non-healthcare sectors, and COVID-19 prevention and control training course attendance were all associated with a willingness to volunteer. The strongest barriers preventing volunteering included fear for the health of their family and lack of training/knowledge. Conclusively, healthcare students reported a high level of willingness, indicating a positive attitude toward responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adequate training should be employed to increase the willingness among healthcare students in Vietnam.

Health professional student’s volunteering activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic literature review

“…Fourteen studies (34.2%) found a willingness to volunteer ranging from 19.5 to 91.5% ( 32 , 36 ). However, the actual implementation of this willingness was only observed in a lesser proportion (6.5–67.9%) ( 25 , 37 – 40 ), and their readiness level was still low (18.6–58.6%) ( 32 , 38 , 41 ).…”

“…Nine studies described the types of volunteering activities carried out by health professional students during the pandemic ( 7 , 8 , 22 , 25 , 27 , 39 , 46 – 48 ). The activities can be broadly divided into nine different categories, defined as hospital works (triage, admission wards, and emergency room) ( 7 , 25 , 27 , 46 ), call center and administration ( 7 , 27 , 39 , 46 ), epidemiological aspects (contact tracing, testing) ( 22 , 47 , 48 ), online or remote consultation (regarding COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 cases, using phone or internet) ( 46 – 49 ), laboratory-related works ( 47 ), food and/or PPE supply ( 27 , 39 ), mentoring juniors ( 39 ), public education (such as countering hoaxes) ( 48 ), and in research programs ( 8 ). Some students also reported participating in more than one type of volunteering activity ( 7 , 39 ).…”

“…Nine studies included in this review assessed the form of activities that health professional students undertook to fight the pandemic. The activities can be broadly divided into nine different categories, defined as direct patient care ( 7 , 25 , 27 , 46 ), call center and administration ( 7 , 27 , 39 , 46 ), epidemiological aspects ( 22 , 47 , 48 ), online consultation ( 46 – 49 ), laboratory-related works ( 47 ), equipment supply ( 27 , 39 ), mentoring juniors ( 39 ), health promotion and education ( 48 ), and in research programs ( 8 ). Some students also reported being involved in more than one type of volunteering activity, such as in patient’s triage and admission wards ( 7 , 39 ).…”

Factors influencing medical and nursing students’ willingness to care for COVID-19 patients in South Korea: a cross-sectional study

“…In this study, more than half of the students (54.9%) had participated in clinical training during the pandemic, and a greater ratio of participants with clinical practice experience was found in the willingness group than in the unwillingness group. Previous studies have shown that willingness to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic was higher in medical students with clinical practice experience than in students without such experience [34]. Additionally, 57.8% of physicians with experience in caring for COVID-19 patients in hospitals were willing to care for patients suffering from COVID-19 [25].…”

“…Additionally, 57.8% of physicians with experience in caring for COVID-19 patients in hospitals were willing to care for patients suffering from COVID-19 [25]. It is likely that students participate both directly and indirectly in treating patients during their clinical training [34]. Therefore, healthcare providers with experience in caring for patients during disaster situations are more willing to participate in providing healthcare during future disasters because they have gained evidencebased knowledge and training in disaster management and response strategies [35].…”