ประสบการณ์การเป็นอาสาสมัครด้านสุขภาพ

Experience of Volunteer Health Workers

วารสารพยาบาลสภากาชาดไทย ปีที่ 13 ฉ.2 ก.ค.-ธ.ค. 63

จอนผะจง เพ็งจาด* กนกพร จิวประสาท** นภาพร พีรกวี**

Abstract
     The objective of this interpretive phenomenology study is to investigate the work
experiences of volunteer health workers. Eight health volunteers working within the
community in Bangkok were purposive selected to participate in recorded in-depth
interviews. The data was extracted and transcribed verbatim using Benner’s content
analysis method. Thematic analysis revealed five major themes that characterized the
experiences of working as volunteer health workers. The themes were: 1) the meaning of
volunteerism including (a) working and carrying out activities as assigned and (b) the act
of the heart that wants to give or help others or the public through a willful action
without any self-benefit or compensation; 2) becoming a volunteer health worker including
being invited by friends, self-evaluation of workability, and having a passion for volunteer
work; 3) the work of volunteer health workers involves a variety of activities and requires
many skills including conducting community health surveys, providing health information,
visiting homes, assisting chronically ill and bed-ridden patients, and engaging in social
services; 4) the results of volunteer work includes mentally and physically exhaustion from
the work, feeling accomplishment as the giver, proud of oneself, get good thing come to
life, and learn from experiences and apply them to take care of one’s own health; and
5) experience in end of life care. All participants had a positive attitude toward death and
caring for end of life patients, but they reported having less confidence to assist and
provide care due to a lack of knowledge and skills in this aspect. The results reflect the
roles of volunteer health workers that benefit the community and the obstacles to achieving
the responsible tasks. The important needs are the volunteer recruitment system and
training program to improve both knowledge and experiences that covers community health
care needs, especially care for chronically ill, elderly, and end of life patients. Moreover,
volunteers support and team building exercises should be strengthened in order to achieve
good health outcomes.

Keywords: work experience, volunteer health workers, end of life care