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Older Taiwanese Volunteers as Standardized Patients: Service Motivation, Identity Formation, and Internal
Yun-Chi Ho1, Sheng-Po Kao, Che-Han Chen
1From the Institute of Education (Y.-C.H., C.-H.C.), Tzu Chi University, Hualien; Department of Medical Genetics (S.-Y.C.), Center for Humanities in Medicine (S.-P.K.), Department of Medical Education (S.-Y.C.), and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (S.-P.K.), Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien; and School of Medicine (S.-P.K., S.-Y.C.), Tzu Chi University, Hualien County, Taiwan.
Older volunteers, serving as standardized patients (SPs), are motivated by personal experiences and a sense of mission. Their role provides fulfillment and self-worth, fostering continued altruism in medical education.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Standardized patients (SPs) in Taiwan are often older volunteers with high retention rates.
- Their selfless dedication to service warrants exploration of underlying psychological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the psychological process behind continued altruistic behaviors of SPs.
- To understand the formation of service motivation, professional identity, and internal transformation in SPs.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 16 volunteers (aged 50-70) with 3-11 years of experience as SPs.
- Individual semistructured interviews (approx. 120 minutes each).
- Thematic analysis of interview transcripts.
Main Results:
- Three major themes emerged: SPs' service motivation (past medical experiences, acquiring medical knowledge, emotional connections), SPs' identity formation (role recognition, work ethic, religious mission), and SPs' support (internal transformation, personal well-being).
- Past experiences and a sense of mission drive altruistic behavior.
- Identity formation provides purpose and fulfillment, mitigating negative life impacts.
Conclusions:
- Doctor-patient or life experiences motivate SPs' altruism.
- Identity formation offers older SPs purpose and self-actualization through medical student training.
- Role recognition and self-worth help SPs manage challenges, maintaining a positive attitude.
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