Exploration of volunteers as health connectors within a multicomponent primary care-based program supporting self-management of diabetes and hypertension.
Health Soc Care Community
; 28(3): 734-746, 2020 05.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31777125
ABSTRACT
Volunteers support health and social care worldwide, yet there is little research on integrating these unpaid community members into primary care. 'Health Teams Advancing Patient Experience, Strengthening Quality through Health Connectors for Diabetes Management' (Health TAPESTRY-HC-DM) integrates volunteer 'health connectors' into a community- and primary care-based program supporting client self-management in Hamilton, Canada. Volunteers supported clients through goal setting, motivation, education and connections to community resources and primary care. This study aimed to create and apply a volunteer program evaluation framework to explore (a) volunteer training effectiveness (learning online content, in-person training, self-efficacy in role tasks, training overall); (b) feasibility of program implementation (process measures, reflections on client encounters, understanding of volunteer roles/responsibilities, client perspectives on volunteer program); and (c) effects of volunteering on volunteers (health outcomes, self-efficacy, value of volunteering). A concurrent triangulation, mixed-methods design was used. Data were collected in 2016, sources included volunteer online training quizzes, focus groups, self-efficacy survey, Veterans RAND 12-Item (VR-12) survey, in-person training feedback forms and narratives of client visits; client interviews; and quantitative implementation data. Quantitative data analysis included descriptive statistics, paired samples t tests, and effect size (Cohen's d). Qualitative data used descriptive thematic analysis. Nineteen volunteers and 12 clients participated in this evaluation. Findings demonstrate the volunteer program evaluation framework in action. Online training increased knowledge. In-person training received largely positive evaluations. Self-efficacy was high post-training and higher after volunteering. VR-12 sub-scale means increased descriptively. Volunteers understood themselves as healthcare system connectors, feeling fulfilled with their contributions and learning new skills. They identified barriers including not having the resources and skills of healthcare professionals. Clients found volunteers were a major program strength, appreciating their company and regular goals follow-up. Using a volunteer program evaluation framework generated rich and comprehensive data demonstrating the feasibility of bringing volunteers into primary care.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Atención Primaria de Salud
/
Voluntarios
/
Rol Profesional
/
Diabetes Mellitus
/
Automanejo
/
Hipertensión
Tipo de estudio:
Evaluation_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Health Soc Care Community
Asunto de la revista:
CIENCIAS SOCIAIS
/
MEDICINA SOCIAL
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Canadá