Authors (including presenting author) :
ZHANG S (1), KAM KW (1), Edith KUNG (1), Karen LAU (1), Anson CHAN (1), Mansi CHENG (1), Kin Ling LI (1), Rita CHENG (2), Abby AU YEUNG (2), Phoebe WONG (3),LAU CC (4)
Affiliation :
1.Patient Resources Centre, Tuen Mun Hospital
2.Patient Resources Centre, Pok Oi Hospital
3.Patient Resources Centre, Tin Shui Wai Hospital
4.Medicine and Geriatrics, Tuen Mun Hospital
Introduction :
Volunteer service plays a vital role in supporting the healthcare system in Hong Kong, serving as a strong pillar that complements the work of medical professionals. In the New Territories West Cluster(NTWC), 4,410 registered volunteers contribute an impressive 51,077 hours of service annually. Their efforts span a wide range of responsibilities, including patient support, hospital support services, and initiatives focused on patient education and health promotion. The innovative Summer Youth Volunteer Programme (SYVP), launched in 2024, was developed to address staffing shortages in NTWC while offering aspiring youth essential knowledge and skills through a comprehensive hospital orientation, variety of service exposure and on-the-job mentorship.
Objectives :
To assess the impact of the SYVP on participating youth and its influence on user departments.
Methodology :
Between June and August 2024, 230 youth volunteers participated in the SYVP. A hospital orientation with core volunteer training (i.e. hospital introduction), advanced training (i.e. communication skills) and career exposure programme (i.e. career education and consultation) was provided in collaboration with clinical staff and Human Resources Department. Volunteers provided services across diverse hospital departments, including Accident & Emergency(A&E), General Outpatient Clinic, and Pharmacy. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (12-item) was administered to participants before and after the programme. "Impact of SYVP" survey and a programme evaluation was administered upon completion. Qualitative feedback was collected from user departments to evaluate the programme’s impact on their operations.
Result & Outcome :
Among the participants, 79% were aged 15–17 years, and 60.2% expressed career aspirations in allied health professions, such as physiotherapy and clinical psychology. The volunteers contributed over 7,500 hours of service. Upon completion, 100% of participants reported increased understanding of hospital operations, 98.8% experienced personal growth, and 96.6% found the experience beneficial for their career development. A slight improvement in participants' GSES scores was observed after the programme (M = 29.70, SD = 5.60). User departments reported a significant positive impact of youth volunteers on both patients (i.e. facilitate patients using HA GO) and departmental operations (i.e. alleviated clerical duties). The SYVP effectively enhanced youth participants’ confidence and preparedness for future healthcare careers. Strategically, the scheme demonstrated a promising framework alleviating manpower shortage in HA and provision of efficient care to patients in the long run.
