Volunteering in a Pediatric oncology unit: motivations and duration

Background . The presence of volunteers is a great and essential help in pediatric oncology life. Volunteers generally receive an appropriate formation that could follow their motivations or modify finalities. Methods . We investigated, through an appropriate questionnaire, demography, motivations and satisfaction of eight association/non-profit entities. Results. Sixty-nine volunteers answered anonymously to all or part of the questions. The majority of them, with a median age of 59 years, were females, with a medium/high-level of education and were involved longer than 5 years in volunteering. Their engagement was driven by personal or close experiences with childhood cancer. They possessed a deep understanding of cancer-related issues and were motivated by the desire to enhance the quality and innovation of care. Participation through associations fostered a sense of community belonging and altruistic purpose, and their satisfaction with the experience often led them to encourage others to become involved. The majority of respondents did not consider rewards from previous experiences to be a significant motivating factor. Conclusions . Effective volunteer activities and retention rely on a clear understanding of volunteers’ expectations and the selective recruitment of individuals whose expectations align with what the organization can feasibly provide.