Characteristics of volunteers who deliver health education and promotion: a comparison with organization members and program participants

Divine Interventions: Faith-Based Approaches to Health Promotion Programs for Latinos

Few interventions have used faith-based approaches in health promotion programs among US Latinos, a notably religious population. This article explores the perceptions of church leaders, promotoras, and program participants on the Catholic religious context and content of a community-based intervention addressing physical activity, nutrition, and stress management for Chicago Latinas aged 50+. Nineteen in-depth interviews were conducted. Viewed as trustworthy, natural, and authentic, the church setting nurtured community bonds. Moreover, the program's religious content encouraged Latinas to feel motivated, connected, and engaged with the program in meaningful ways. Overall, faith-based health promotion programs offer a promising approach for Latino-centered interventions.

Recruitment, Retention, and Activity of Volunteers Promoting Mammography Use in Rural Communitites

As of a community mammography promotion, the authors recruited volunteers in rural communities to conduct intervention activities. Volunteers were trained to promote mammography use among the women in their community using a variety of community activities and/or barrier-specific telephone counseling (BSTC). As prior research on BSTC has suggested that it is a particularly effective means of screening promotion, the authors were interested in determining whether volunteers could be recruited and trained to be effective counselors. The results of this analysis suggest that recruiting volunteers for BSTC is not more difficult than recruitment of volunteers for more traditional community activities, but that special efforts may be required to retain volunteers doing BSTC and to encourage their activity. Overall, the use of community volunteers for mammography promotion in rural areas is possible, and volunteers using either intervention strategy may be able to increase screening use.

Voluntariado hospitalar: um estudo sobre a percepção dos profissionais de saúde

Fortemente incentivados como modo de atuação frente aos problemas sociais atuais, os serviços voluntários são freqüentemente referidos como enriquecedores para o indivíduo. Todavia, quando dirigidos à área da saúde, questiona-se o suporte técnico e emocional assegurado aos voluntários, porque sua ausência ou fraqueza pode suscitar sofrimento psíquico para o agente, ou prejudicar o atendimento e as relações voluntário-profissional. Para melhor compreender a natureza do voluntariado e o modo como é percebido pelos integrantes da equipe de saúde, a pesquisa foi realizada em duas etapas. Na primeira delas, 29 profissionais responderam a um questionário sobre a percepção destes serviços no hospital. Na segunda, 14 destes profissionais foram entrevistados. Os relatos foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo temática e ao software Alceste. Embora existam diferenças entre profissionais, a avaliação geral dos serviços voluntários foi positiva, sendo que alguns identificaram limitações. Discute-se a necessidade de maior capacitação e supervisão dos voluntários e apontam-se sugestões para futuras investigações.

Key elements for church-based health promotion programs: outcome-based literature review

Although not a new concept, church-based health promotion programs have yet to be widely researched. Few of the initial studies used randomized and controlled designs. Dissemination of study results has been sporadic, with findings often reported in church periodicals. A renewed interest in church-based health promotion programs (CBHPP) is emerging. The purpose of this article is to propose seven key elements found in a literature review to be beneficial in establishing church-based community health promotion programs that demonstrated desired health promotion outcomes. Based on the outcomes of successful CBHPP, the following key elements have been identified: partnerships, positive health values, availability of services, access to church facilities, community-focused interventions, health behavior change, and supportive social relationships. An example of one program that embodies these elements is presented. The Heart and Soul Program, designed to increase physical activity in midlife women to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease with advancing age, is discussed within the context of the elements for successful church-based programs. CBHPP have effectively promoted health behaviors within certain communities. To promote health and wellness in light of our diverse society and health needs, health promotion professionals and churches can be dynamic partners.

The psychological well-being of renal peer support volunteers

AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of renal peer support volunteers (PSVs) and explore the effects on their psychological well-being from helping others.

BACKGROUND

Dialysis patients, transplant patients and family members who become renal PSVs receive special training in empathy, listening, self-awareness and problem solving. The trained renal PSVs offer a unique service to others struggling to learn to live with renal failure because they have faced the same struggles.

METHODS

This exploratory study utilized a longitudinal design. The first time for data collection was immediately after the volunteers had completed a Kidney Foundation of Canada training programme. Subsequent interviews were at time intervals of 4, 8 and 12 months after the first interview. Information on the psychological well-being of the volunteers was collected at each interview in two different ways: the 38-item Mental Health Inventory (MHI) and open-ended questions.

FINDINGS

Thirty-one PSVs completed all four interviews. The average age of the volunteers was 45 years and almost half had a university level of education. They identified themselves as belonging to 12 different ethno-cultural groups. Analysis of the quantitative data from the MHI indicated that the mental health of the PSVs stayed remarkably stable over time. Analysis of the qualitative data from the open-ended questions revealed four major themes which, taken together, showed notable increases in personal growth and well-being for the PSVs over time.

CONCLUSION

After participating in a training programme, renal PSVs maintained, and possibly improved, their own well-being by helping others with chronic renal failure.

Disadvantaged persons' participation in health promotion projects: some structural dimensions

A structural perspective was used in studying community participation of disadvantaged groups (poor women, street youth, and disabled persons) in health promotion projects. Five community projects in the Canadian Health Promotion Contribution Program were examined in a comparative case study utilizing in-depth interviews, documents, and secondary sources. Analysis revealed relatively low numbers and restricted range of participants, difficulties in recruiting and maintaining participants, declining rates of active participation over time, and limited target group influence and power. This paper reports on the relationship between various dimensions of structure (social-cultural, organizational, political-legal-economic) and the community participation process. Participation was influenced by structural factors such as bureaucratic rules and regulators, perceived minority group rights and relations, agency reputations and responsibilities, available resources, and organizational roles. Control of projects by target group members, rather than by service agencies, was an important overall organizational structural factor which allowed community members to achieve influence in projects. The study concludes that a conceptual model based on structural factors is useful in explaining how key factors from federal and local levels can restrict or facilitate the community participation process.

Benefits to volunteers in a community-based health promotion and chronic illness self-management program for the elderly

1. Volunteers for health promotion programs tend to be younger and healthier than program participants. 2. Volunteers in a health promotion program reported improved health and function. 3. Nurses involved in health promotion programs can extend their efforts by using trained volunteers.

Community volunteers as recruitment staff in a clinical trial: the systolic hypertension in the elderly program (SHEP) experience

During the recruitment phase of a trial it is often found that recruitment is not proceeding as quickly as projected. Budget limitations require innovative methods, such as use of volunteers, to increase recruitment yields without increasing cost. In the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP), volunteer staff at 12 of the 16 clinical centers (CCs) performed a range of tasks such as mailings, telephoning, and clerical work. SHEP volunteers donated almost 40,000 hours, at an estimated cost savings to the program of more than $368,000. Staff volunteers appear to require more training and supervision than regular staff and may require flexible work schedules. These limitations can be obviated by careful planning. This paper describes the SHEP experience with staff volunteers and provides suggestions for their use in other trials.