Explaining the Barriers and Challenges of Health Volunteers and Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Proposed Program: A Mixed Method Study

Abstract

Background: Along with health development in general terms, women’s involvement in health programs can be effective in raising their self-confidence and their health promotion. This study was carried out to unveil the barriers to and challenges of the health volunteers and to present the solutions to its promotion. Methods: This research was carried out using an exploratory mixed method in three phases: In the first step, data collection was conducted utilizing semistructured individual interviews and focus group discussions with the participation of 29 health volunteers and responsible authorities. In the second step, A three-round online national Delphi technique was used to ask the opinions of Iranian health volunteers’ supervisors and the relevant researchers about strategies to overcome barriers to recruitment and retention of the volunteers. Also in the third step a protocol was prepared and executive strategies were implemented. Results: Barriers to and challenges of health volunteers were generally categorized into four main themes including volunteers and trainers’ inadequate capabilities, inadequate acceptance of the volunteers, restrictive social norms, and organizational problems. At the first round, results of the study revealed that the 133 suggested strategies to overcome barriers to participation of WHVs were categorized into 14 themes. Participants at the second and third rounds reached consensus over 81 and 100 items. Based on a special meeting with the health authorities, a total of twelve solutions were identified as possible solutions that were implemented in the final step. The analyzes showed that the determined indicators such as the level of healthcare satisfaction from the volunteers activities, the level of volunteers consent from their activities, the level of awareness and behavior of the people related to the activities carried out by health volunteers, the level of participation of people in voluntary activities before and after the intervention had a difference between the two groups. Conclusion: A multifaceted approach should be used to improve the participation of health volunteers. In addition to motivational factors, factors such as allocating proper resources, empowering WHVs/trainers, and mobilizing the community should be also considered. It seems that interaction among health system, people, and health volunteers should be improved. Holding training programs about the activities of health volunteers at the society level leads into the better utilization of society sources in health programs.