Factors affecting satisfaction levels of Japanese volunteers in meal delivery services for the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting satisfaction with volunteer work of participants in a meal delivery service for the elderly.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study with a self-administered survey was carried out.


METHODS
Of 364 volunteers assisting with a meal delivery service for the elderly in rural towns A (80), B (159), and C (125), 247 responded (response rate: 68%).


METHODS
An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was administered seeking information about basic attributes, sense of satisfaction with volunteer work, and working circumstances such as human relationships with fellow volunteers, meal service users or professional staff members, opportunities for meetings or workshop, publicity through public relations magazines, and the like.


RESULTS
In multivariate logistic analysis, the sense of satisfaction of volunteers was closely associated with human relations among volunteers (odds ratio [OR] 5.15, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.84-14.40, p<.01), meal service users (OR 3.84, 95% CI 1.37-10.77, p<.05), and professional staff members supervising the meal delivery service (OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.27-9.84, p<.05). Human relations were also affected by the emphasis on communication, consultation with supervisory staff members, having opportunities for meetings, having friends with whom to confer, and publicity through public relations magazines.


CONCLUSIONS
Satisfaction levels of volunteers in meal delivery services for the elderly were most affected by human relations with fellow volunteers, meal service users, and professional staff members. Increasing opportunities for communication may be important to promote good human relationships among volunteers and volunteer activities.
Yanagisawa
Hisayo
H
Department of Community Health Nursing, Ibaraki Christian University School of Nursing, Ibaraki, Japan. yanagisawa@icc.ac.jp
Sakakibara
Hisataka
H
D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce