Palliative care volunteers: why do they do it?

Two studies were conducted to examine people's motives for joining a palliative care volunteer program. To generate a pool of reasons for becoming a palliative care volunteer, previous studies of motivations relevant to palliative care were reviewed and interviews were conducted with 15 palliative care volunteers (Study 1). Combining the literature review and interviews, a total of 22 distinct reasons for volunteering were identified and used to create an Inventory of Motivations for Palliative Care Voluntarism (IMPCV). In Study 2, 113 palliative care volunteers responded to the IMPCV. "To help ease the pain of those living with a life-threatening illness" was rated as the most influential reason for becoming a palliative care volunteer. A principal components factor analysis was conducted on the IMPCV. It was decided that four factors adequately represented the items: Leisure, Personal Gain, Altruism, and Civic Responsibility.