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Burden experienced by community health volunteers in T aiwan: A qualitative study
Author(s) -
Gau YuehMei,
Usher Kim,
Stewart Lee,
Buettner Petra
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1111/ijn.12024
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , qualitative research , workforce , medicine , focus group , gerontology , continuing education , descriptive research , nursing , volunteer , psychology , medical education , social science , sociology , agronomy , economics , biology , economic growth , statistics , business , mathematics , marketing
In T aiwan, volunteers of each C ommunity H ealth P romotion D evelopment C entres help to diffuse healthy lifestyle education and complement the paid workforce, especially community nurses. An interpretive, descriptive qualitative design, using focus groups, was conducted to explore the burden experienced by community health volunteers in T aiwan. The data were analyzed inductively, and emergent themes were explored. The majority of participants were female between 50 and 59 years old with an average of 4.5 years experience as a volunteer. Thematic analysis resulted in four themes: preparation and scope of practice, lack of support for the role, work overload and expectations of the role. Volunteers in T aiwan do not always have the necessary skills to care for their clientele because of an inadequate programme of orientation, lack of continuing education and support for the role, role overload and expectations placed upon them by the clients and others.