Engagement of Healthcare Professionals in Voluntary Activities During COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Niloufar Najafi; Mahboobeh Khabaz Mafinejad; Mahsa Abbaszadeh; Fateme Gorgani; Seyed Amir-Hossein Safavi; Samaneh Parsa; Narjes Zarei; Sahar Karimpour Reyhan

doi:10.18502/jimc.v6i1.11842

Niloufar Najafi Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahboobeh Khabaz Mafinejad Health Professions Education Research Center, Department of Medical Education, Education Development Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahsa Abbaszadeh Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Fateme Gorgani Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Amir-Hossein Safavi Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Samaneh Parsa Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Narjes Zarei Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sahar Karimpour Reyhan Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v6i1.11842

Keywords: COVID-19, Crisis, Pandemic, Participation, Volunteers

Abstract

Background: The coming various disasters, especially probable pandemics, will need a large number of volunteers with different capabilities. Motivation of volunteers, as a driving force, will be very important for future pandemic disaster planning. The aim of this study was to determine the enablers and barriers to the engagement of healthcare professionals in voluntary activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the General Internal Medicine Departments of Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran, Iran. A 44-item questionnaire was designed based on the Literature Review and Experts Panel. Items were scored on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from “strongly disagree (1)” to “strongly agree (5)”. Content validity and face validity of the questionnaire were checked by 10 experts and 10 respondents, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha of the items of stimulating and inhibitory factors’ section was calculated 0.83 and 0.92, respectively. A self-administrated paper-based questionnaire has been distributed among healthcare team members.

Results: Out of 105 health care professionals, 80 (76.2%) were female and 41 (39%) were married. The most significant demographic predictor of willingness to volunteering was having no child (p-value=0.001). History of infection, admission, or death of family members or friends in the current pandemic was an important factor to reduce the desire to voluntary activities significantly (p-value=0.019). Depressive disorders and using antidepressants had no relation with the attraction to volunteering, but anxiety disorders had a significant relation with the willingness to be a volunteer (p-value=0.04).

Conclusion: The most important demographic variables influencing the unwillingness to participate in voluntary activities during the COVID-19 crisis are parenting role, history of anxiety disorders, and history of hospitalization or death of relatives or friends. Furthermore, the voluntary participation of healthcare professionals is influenced by facilitating factors such as giving rewards, reducing the period of obligatory military service, having a sense of altruism, and helping others.