Metrics
1 Record Views
Journal article
Pet Visitation: A Study of Hospital Volunteer Motivations
The International Journal of Volunteer Administration, Vol.23(2), pp.1-18
07/2018
Abstract
Volunteers have been a valuable resource in healthcare. Effective recruitment and engagement of volunteers help drive the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI’s) triple aims of improved patient experience, care and cost reductions. IHI is a not-for-profit organization seeking to improve health and health care worldwide by partnering with “visionaries, leaders, and front-line practitioners around the globe to spark bold, inventive ways to improve the health of individuals and populations” (IHI, 2018). Volunteer recruitment and engagement requires understanding motivations for volunteers and matching that motivation with opportunities to give back. This study explores the unique motivations for volunteers who bring in their certified dogs to visit children in a pediatric hospital system. Data was collected to explore motivational trends in this volunteer’s sample (n=26). This study found that these volunteers, when compared with general hospital-based volunteers, are significantly more motivated by an altruistic drive to serve others as well as a sense of personal development and learning. These powerful themes are developed and discussed along with recommendations for future efforts to nurture the growth of volunteerism in similar settings.
Related links
Details
- Title
- Pet Visitation: A Study of Hospital Volunteer Motivations
- Publication Details
- The International Journal of Volunteer Administration, Vol.23(2), pp.1-18
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Identifiers
- 99381829041206600
- Academic Unit
- Social Work; Usha Kundu, MD College of Health
- Language
- English