Public health's response: citizens' thoughts on volunteering

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is twofold: to delineate the results of the focus groups regarding volunteers and their needs; and to compare the results with pertinent literature regarding volunteerism to determine whether the motivating factors and needs of volunteers still need to be addressed by public health and other professional practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

Focus groups were conducted with public health volunteers and content analysis was conducted to identity central themes.

Findings

Several important themes related to motivation and training emerged from the focus groups. These findings are supported by the sociological, psychological, management and administrative literature on volunteerism.

Research limitations/implications

While qualitative, these findings emphasize factors of which public health and emergency management officials need to be cognizant as they prepare, plan and work with volunteers.

Practical implications

In order to retain volunteers' public health and emergency management, volunteer programs need to address the social, interpersonal, and educational desires of volunteers.

Originality/value

The perceptions, values, interests and motivation of public health volunteers were directly elicited in order to identify factors that facilitate volunteer participation in public health and emergency responses.

Citation

Brand, M.W., Kerby, D., Elledge, B., Burton, T., Coles, D. and Dunn, A. (2008), "Public health's response: citizens' thoughts on volunteering", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 54-61. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653560810855874