scholarly journals Medical Volunteerism in Times of COVID-19: Burden or Relief?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitris Potolidis
Keyword(s):  
Medical Volunteerism

scholarly journals Medical Volunteerism in Undergraduate Medical Programme: A Novel, in-depth Curriculum

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adegoke Olusegun Adefolalu
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Social Activism ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Health Advocacy ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Medical Educators ◽  
Medical Volunteerism ◽  
Academic Year

Health disparities persist among several populations globally and doctors are well-placed to advocate for better health outcomes among the population they serve thereby promoting health equity. According to the literature, medical educators have the capacity to produce socially responsible medical doctors who have competency in health advocacy in addition to their clinical knowledge. However, apart from being taught the determinants of health, little, or no real-live experience is given to medical students in social medicine and health advocacy to enable them to develop the necessary skills in this area. At the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria, South Africa, Medical Volunteerism was offered as a selective course during the 2016 academic year. It entails engagement of the medical students in activities that tied them with the primary burden of providing service to an identified community, where they plan and participate in an organized activity that meets the identified needs of such community. This article describes the structure, content, and outcomes of this curriculum. The feedback from students and other stakeholders were strongly positive, the students rated the course highly in a variety of instances, including appropriateness of lecture topics, presentation of the course contents, course materials, effectiveness of teaching and level of students' participation. The average overall rating for the course was 8.4 based on a ten-point scale. Furthermore, the students acknowledged that it contributed to their personal development in terms of social activism in health. In conclusion, medical volunteerism selective has positive impact that is measurable, support should be given to students and facilitators who are interested in implementing similar selective as it has the potential of reinforcing certain values in medical students that could motivate them to have increased desire to work with underserved communities after graduation.

scholarly journals Professionalisation of International Medical Volunteer Work to Maintain Ethical Standards: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experience of Volunteer Doctors in Relation to UK Policy

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Holly Eadsforth
Keyword(s):  
Government Policy ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
International Medical ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
External Governance ◽  
Medical Volunteerism

Doctors from the United Kingdom are increasingly involved in international medical volunteerism in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Although supported by government policy this practice lacks infrastructure and coordination. Volunteer activities can have positive impact but also risk causing harm. Without external governance the responsibility lies with volunteers and their organisations to self-evaluate their activities. This study aimed to explore influences affecting volunteer engagement with ethical standards and evaluative practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven doctors working in the Scottish National Health Service with volunteer experience in LMICs. Findings were analysed thematically to explore this issue in view of ongoing policy development. Although ethical standards were valued by participants they were unaware of relevant government policy. Influences on volunteer development are unstructured and vary in quality. Evaluation lacks structure and framing. Volunteer physicians face a number of barriers to engaging in critical evaluation of their activities in LMICs. Development and professionalization of medical volunteering in LMICs needs to address volunteer preparation and evaluative practice to maximise the benefits of volunteering, reduce the risk of harm and maximise learning and accountability. Further areas of research are suggested to inform professionalisation of this sector.

Ethical precepts for medical volunteerism: including local voices and values to guide RHD surgery in Rwanda

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 814-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn E Coors ◽  
Thomas L Matthew ◽  
Dayna B Matthew
Keyword(s):  
Medical Volunteerism

scholarly journals Reflections on medical volunteerism: free medical days for refugees

2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (671) ◽  
pp. 280-281
Author(s):  
Basem Saab ◽  
Reina Alameddine
Keyword(s):  
Medical Volunteerism

The role of volunteerism in the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases and in increasing adherence to a healthy lifestyle

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-120
Author(s):  
E. V. Chaplygina ◽  
S. V. Shlyk ◽  
O. I. Sylka ◽  
A. N. Fisunova
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Medical Volunteerism ◽  
Medical Volunteers ◽  
Medical University

Medical volunteerism gives an opportunity for future specialists to provide free assistance to practical healthcare, as well as to acquire personal and professional qualities required for a student at a medical university. Medical volunteers are implementing many large-scale campaigns and projects aimed at the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases and other socially significant diseases, and at promoting a healthy lifestyle. The results of the work are to increase public awareness, as preventive measures are an important component of the healthcare system, aimed at the formation of the population's medical and social activity and motivation for a healthy lifestyle.

The Ethics of Medical Volunteerism

2016 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geren S. Stone ◽  
Kristian R. Olson
Keyword(s):  
Medical Volunteerism
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