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Volunteers trained in palliative care at the hospital: An original and dynamic resource

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2014

Sylvette Delaloye ,
Monica Escher ,
Christophe Luthy ,
Valérie Piguet ,
Pierre Dayer  and
Christine Cedraschi
Sylvette Delaloye*
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Consultation for Pain and Palliative Care Center, University Hospitals of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
Monica Escher
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Consultation for Pain and Palliative Care Center, University Hospitals of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
Christophe Luthy
Affiliation:
Division of General Medical Rehabilitation, University Hospitals of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
Valérie Piguet
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Consultation for Pain and Palliative Care Center, University Hospitals of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
Pierre Dayer
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Consultation for Pain and Palliative Care Center, University Hospitals of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
Christine Cedraschi
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Consultation for Pain and Palliative Care Center, University Hospitals of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland Division of General Medical Rehabilitation, University Hospitals of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Sylvette Delaloye, Multidisciplinary Pain and Palliative Care Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 4 rue Gabrielle-Perret Gentil, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

Volunteers trained in palliative care are increasingly present in acute care units in general hospitals. Nevertheless, there still are few available data on this topic, especially concerning the integration of volunteers outside the palliative structures. Our present study aimed to describe the experience of volunteers trained in palliative care in the context of a primary care hospital. In particular, the difficulties and the benefits of this specific position were evaluated according to volunteers' own perceptions and words.

Method:

We employed a qualitative method. Various aspects of the volunteer's role were explored by means of semistructured questions, addressing their activity, their motivations, and their feelings. Participants were volunteers (n = 19) trained in palliative care and working at a university hospital. After giving written consent, they completed the semistructured questionnaire at home. Content analysis was used to identify the main categories of answers and the principal themes reported by the volunteers.

Results:

The main difficulties were related to uncertainty of the context. As every situation is different, volunteers could not define their role once and for all. However, they derived great satisfaction from their activity. A supporting frame and a good balance between constraints and autonomy were facilitating factors. Besides, the complexity related to the context contributed to make the position valuable and challenging.

Significance of results:

Integrating a voluntary service in a primary care hospital is partly based on active participation of the volunteers in developing their position in a more adequate way. In return, this relative autonomy implies a rigorous and supportive attitude from the institution.

Keywords

Palliative care volunteersRole identificationVolunteer satisfactionPalliative and supportive careGeneral hospitals
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , June 2015 , pp. 601 - 607
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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