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A Qualitative Study on the Position and Role of Volunteers in Integrated Care—An Example of Palliative Care in Croatia

Author

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  • Dorja Vočanec

    (Department of Social Medicine and Organization of Health Care, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Rockefeller St. No. 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Karmen Lončarek

    (Department of Integrated and Palliative Care, Rijeka University Hospital Center, Krešimirova St. No. 42, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Maja Banadinović

    (Firefly Association, Prilaz Gjure Deželića No. 50, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Slavica Sović

    (Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Rockefeller St. No. 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Aleksandar Džakula

    (Department of Social Medicine and Organization of Health Care, Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Rockefeller St. No. 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

Volunteers have been present in palliative care since its inception. With the development of palliative care systems, their role and position are changing. Given growing long-term care needs and limited resources in health and social care, volunteers are becoming an important resource in meeting these needs. In Croatia, palliative care has been developing as an integrated care model since 2014. To assess the position and the role of volunteers, we analyzed legislative documents from healthcare and social care and conducted a focus group with volunteers in palliative care. We found that volunteers provide support from the social aspect of care, for the patient and the family. The formal palliative care system involves them as partners in the provision of care, even though this cooperation is informal. The main determinants of their activities are an individualized approach, flexibility, a community presence, and project funding. In conclusion, these determinants allow them to react quickly to identified needs, but with them come some uncertainties of their sustainability. Their activities could indicate what needs to be integrated between health and social care and in what areas. Volunteers both fill in gaps in the system and are ahead of the system, and by doing this they develop new processes around identified unmet needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorja Vočanec & Karmen Lončarek & Maja Banadinović & Slavica Sović & Aleksandar Džakula, 2022. "A Qualitative Study on the Position and Role of Volunteers in Integrated Care—An Example of Palliative Care in Croatia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:8203-:d:855855
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Blythe McLennan & Joshua Whittaker & John Handmer, 2016. "The changing landscape of disaster volunteering: opportunities, responses and gaps in Australia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 84(3), pages 2031-2048, December.
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