Does volunteering decrease burnout? Healthcare professional and student perspectives on burnout and volunteering

Bibliographic Data

ID22066682
AuthorsTai Metzger (0000-0002-8991-3572, University of California, Los Angeles, corresponding author), Nathan Nguyen (0000-0001-6969-3894, University of California, Los Angeles), Hillary Le (University of California, Los Angeles), Daisy Havo (University of California, Los Angeles), Katherine Ngo (University of California, Los Angeles), Sebastian Lee (University of California, Los Angeles), Timmy Nguyen (University of California, Los Angeles), Quynhanh Nguyen (University of California, Los Angeles), Leyna Tran (University of California, Los Angeles), Nathan Tong (University of California, Los Angeles), Collin Le (0000-0002-4762-3702, University of California, Los Angeles), Rebecca N Dudovitz (0000-0001-9457-0562, University of California, Los Angeles)
Year2024
Volume12
Pages1387494-1387494
Publication date2024-05-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2024.1387494
PMID38855454
OpenAlexW4398773822
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited25

Background: Burnout among healthcare providers is a significant crisis in our healthcare system, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to understand what motivates healthcare workers and students to volunteer in their community as well as examine how volunteering relates to burnout. These findings can help health organizations better meet the needs of healthcare workers, as well as provide insights for non-profits that rely on volunteer professionals. Methods: = 14) who volunteered at community health fairs completed the OLBI burnout assessment and an individual semi-structured interview to characterize their attitudes toward volunteering and its relationship with burnout. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a phenomenological approach, comparing themes across levels of burnout among providers and students. Results: Participants described that feeling burnt out decreased one's likelihood to volunteer, but also that volunteering prevented burnout. The OLBI scores showed that 79.2 and 20.8% of students were low and moderately burnt out respectively, and 87.5 and 12.5% of health professionals were low and moderately burnt out, respectively. Students volunteered for professional development while healthcare professionals cited a desire for a change in their day-to-day work as a reason to volunteer. Both students and health professionals often volunteered because they wanted to make a difference, it made them feel good, and/or they felt a responsibility to volunteer. COVID-19 had a wide range of effects on burnout and motivations to volunteer. Conclusion: Volunteering may be useful for preventing burnout among healthcare workers and students, but may not be helpful for those already experiencing burnout. Interview responses and the fact that none of the volunteers had high burnout levels according to their OLBI scores suggest those who choose to volunteer may be less burnt out. Healthcare organizations and schools can encourage volunteering by emphasizing the difference healthcare students and professionals can make through volunteering in the community. Increasing convenience and emphasizing professional development can help recruit and retain healthcare student volunteers. Highlighting the chance to diversify their scope of practice may help recruit and retain healthcare professional volunteers

Burnout · Health care · Health professionals · Political science · Professional psychology · Clinical Psychology · Disaster Response and Management · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Interprofessional Education and Collaboration · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology

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