Role ambiguity, role conflict or burnout: Are these areas of concern for Australian palliative care volunteers?
Publication Details
Phillips, J.,
Andrews, L.,
&
Hickman, L.
(2013).
Role ambiguity, role conflict or burnout: Are these areas of concern for Australian palliative care volunteers?.
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Article in Press.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909113505195
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether burnout, role ambiguity, or conflict affects Australian hospice volunteers.
Method: Hospice volunteers (n = 120) were invited to participate in this pilot survey. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the free-text responses were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Guidelines have been used to report this data.
Results: A total of 97 participants completed the survey. The majority were middle-aged women who had been palliative care volunteers for more than 7 years and volunteered 14 hours/week (median). Participants reported low levels of role ambiguity (x = 8.4, standard deviation [SD] ±3.0) and conflict (x = 9.8, SD ±3.4) and described enjoying their volunteering and having no symptoms of burnout (76%).
Significance: Active hospice volunteers report low levels of role ambiguity, conflict, and burnout. Adopting a range of self-care strategies and working within a structured volunteer program appear to be important protective factors.
Keywords
volunteer, palliative care, role conflict, role ambiguity, burnout, interdisciplinary team
