Korean J Hosp Palliat Care.  2017 Dec;20(4):226-234. 10.14475/kjhpc.2017.20.4.226.

Factors Associated with Willingness to Volunteer for End-Stage AIDS Patients among Hospice Volunteers

• Yoon S
• Choi Y
• Jung JG
• Kim JS
• Ryu H

• KMID: 2397672
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2017.20.4.226

Abstract

PURPOSE
With the implementation of the Act on Life Sustaining Treatment, hospice-palliative care will be extended to non-cancer diseases including the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, there are concerns about negative perceptions and prejudice toward AIDS patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors related with willingness to volunteer (WV) for patients with end-stage AIDS among hospice volunteers.
METHODS
Participants were 326 hospice volunteers from 19 institutions. A self-administered questionnaire was employed to investigate the participants' WV for end-stage AIDS patients, and the questions were answered using an 11-point rating scale. Demographics, volunteer activity, satisfaction with hospice volunteering, knowledge of AIDS, and attitudes towards AIDS patients (i.e., fear AIDS patients, negative attitude towards AIDS patients, personal stigmatization and stigmatizing attitude) were also investigated. A multiple regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with WV for patients with end-stage AIDS.
RESULTS
WV for patients with end-stage AIDS was 2.82 points lower than that for cancer patients (P < 0.001). The multiple regression analysis showed that the higher the level of satisfaction with hospice volunteering (P=0.002) and the lower the level of "personal stigmatization" (P < 0.001), participants showed greater WV for end-stage AIDS patients.
CONCLUSION
The level of satisfaction with hospice volunteering and "personal stigmatization" were factors associated with participants' WV for patients with end-stage AIDS.

Keyword

Hospices; Volunteers; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Delivery of health care

MeSH Terms

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Delivery of Health Care
Demography
Hospices*
Humans
Prejudice
Stereotyping
Volunteers*