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Hospice volunteer as patient advocate: A trait approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2010

Carol A. Savery  and
Nichole Egbert
Carol A. Savery*
Affiliation:
School of Communication Studies, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Nichole Egbert
Affiliation:
School of Communication Studies, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Carol A. Savery, School of Communication Studies, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242. E-mail: csavery@kent.edu
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Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to examine traits of hospice volunteers that facilitate their success in this informal caregiving role, with the larger goal of alleviating the family caregiver burden and providing additional support to the hospice patient. To achieve this goal, a new scale was developed to tap into how hospice volunteers view their patient advocacy role.

Method:

Participants were 136 trained hospice volunteers from the Midwest who had direct contact with hospice patients. Volunteers mailed anonymous surveys that included measures of argumentativeness, locus of control, attitudes toward patient advocacy, and key demographic items. A new scale was developed to measure patient advocacy by hospice volunteers called the Hospice Volunteer as Patient Advocate.

Results:

Submitting this scale to exploratory factor analysis, two factors emerged: duty as patient advocate and support of patient rights. After performing a multiple regression analysis, results showed that female volunteers who were high in internal locus of control were more likely to perceive that volunteers have a duty as patient advocates. Younger volunteers with more years of volunteer experience, higher levels of internal locus of control, and lower external locus of control were more likely to support patient rights.

Significance of results:

The findings of this study could be used to formalize hospice volunteers' role as patient advocates, thus better utilizing them as committed, caring communicators and improving patient-centered care at end-of-life.

Keywords

Hospice volunteerPatient advocateCommunicationLocus of controlArgumentativeness
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , June 2010 , pp. 159 - 167
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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