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Table 1 Literature review of volunteers in healthcare

From: The ICU Bridge Program: volunteers bridging medicine and people together

Department

Publication

Description

Outcomes

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Thompson et al. [17]

Comfort Club is an initiative in which student volunteers provide positive touch and support for infants in the NICU

Provides:

 1. Considerable learning opportunities for volunteers

 2. Support to parents and staff

Palliative Care

Bloomer et al. [18]

Study aimed to understand the role and experience of palliative care volunteers

Volunteers were appreciated for providing psychosocial support and were found to be a good addition to the healthcare team

Mental Health

Shipley et al. [19]

Assessed the effects of a companion program on:

 20 college student volunteers

 21 mental patients

Companionship was beneficial to some patients. Hospital staff, student companions, and patients had positive feelings about the program and wanted it to continue

 

Bateman et al. [20]

Addressed challenges faced by staff when providing care for patients with dementia and/or delirium. Volunteers were trained to support patients

The program was deemed feasible and an inexpensive way to improve the quality of care and significantly reduce length of stay for those with dementia and/or delirium

 

Ervin et al. [21]

Addressed the opinions of nursing staff caring for patients with dementia/delirium following the introduction of a volunteer program

Improved patient care and time management for nursing tasks

 

Shee et al. [22]

Evaluated the feasibility and staff, volunteer, and patient/caretaker acceptance of a volunteer program for patients with cognitive impairment undergoing inpatient rehabilitation

Patients, their caretakers, staff, and volunteers were satisfied with the program and believed it improved quality of care

 

Sandhaus et al. [23]

Volunteer intervention aiming to prevent and reduce delirium in admitted patients 70 years or older

Nurses, patients, and their families were satisfied with the program. The use of volunteers is a cost-effective way to enhance the care of delirious elders in an inpatient setting

Pediatric Emergency

Steadman et al. [24]

Assessed the impact of university student volunteers on pediatric emergency room research outcomes

University student volunteers can facilitate research enrollment and recruit eligible patients into prospective clinical research studies

Adult In-Patient

Saunders et al. [25]

Instilled a volunteer program to minimize the potential adverse health outcomes of an aging acute inpatient population

Volunteer care and support with eating, drinking, mobilizing, and therapeutic activities can positively impact patient outcomes

 

Green et al. [26]

Introduced volunteers to assess their impact on the prevalent issue of malnutrition in adult patients or resident populations in institutional care

Volunteers can improve mealtime care of adult patients or residents in institutional settings

 

Walton et al. [27]

Malnutrition is prevalent in elderly hospitalized patients and is associated with adverse health outcomes.

Assessed volunteer’s involvement in feeding to assist healthcare workers who lack time to ensure nutritional care of all patients

Patients who were assisted by volunteers had an increased protein and energy intake. Relative to nurses, volunteers socialized more with patients and encouraged them to eat more often

 

Donoghue et al. [28]

Introduced volunteer companion-observers to prevent falls on a high-risk acute aged care ward

Fall rates decreased by 44% and no patients fell when volunteers were present. The presence of volunteers was appreciated by relatives of patients

 

Baczynska et al. [29]

Immobility in hospitals is associated with poor healthcare outcomes in older patients, but mobility is often compromised due to staff time constraints.

Investigated the effect of volunteers in helping with inpatient mobilization

The healthcare team was satisfied with this initiative and volunteers can be an asset