title: Factors influencing the willingness of volunteer paramedics to re-volunteer in a time of war.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Professional volunteers play a crucial role in reinforcing emergency medical services in Israel. In order to encourage volunteers to return for additional shifts, the organization should provide conditions that will assure the return, particularly at a time of self-risk such as war. In 2009 Israeli emergency medical services (Magen David Adom) were required to increase preparedness in the southern part of the country due to missile attacks on civilian populations, while continuing their routine activities, i.e., responding promptly to emergency events. In order to perform these multiple functions, MDA stations in the towns under attack were strengthened with volunteers from other regions of the country. These volunteers, trained as paramedics, served in 24-48 hour shifts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the factors influencing the willingness of volunteers to return.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was used to assess the satisfaction of volunteers participating in the reinforcement with regard to their physical environment, job assignment and the actual activity they were involved in. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 10 days of the study, 121 volunteers reinforced southern MDA stations and 99 (81%) of them responded to the questionnaire. We found that volunteers' willingness to return to do more shifts was affected by their welcome and reception at the station, their job assignment, and their training and preparation for performing the necessary tasks. The sleeping conditions and the number of events they participated in were also contributing factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors that contribute to the willingness of volunteers to re-volunteer should be taken into account by organizations that rely on them.
authors.affiliation: Hadas Division, Magen David Adomrn, Tel Aviv, Israel. eliy@mdais.co.il
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aviel
authors.forename: Limor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aharonson-Daniel
authors.forename: Moti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nave
authors.forename: Haim Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Knobler
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D009042:Motivation; D010559:Personnel Management; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014836:Volition; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare