title: The professional benefits for volunteer research assistants in a pediatric emergency department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency departments (EDs) have utilized university student volunteers to facilitate enrollment of patients into prospective studies; however, the impact of this experience on participant careers is relatively unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We determined the proportion of successful postgraduate school/research job applications supported by our program reference letter. We also examined participant satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study of volunteer research assistants in a tertiary care pediatric ED from September 2011 to July 2013. Students volunteered one 5-h shift per week for at least 6 months. They completed three surveys: 1) Entrance - demographics and goals for entering the ED research assistant program; 2) Exit - program satisfaction, reasons for leaving the program, and future career goals; 3) Follow-up - survey and e-mails were sent to record positions secured since leaving the program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were a total of 920 applicants over the study period, and 127 volunteers were selected to participate in the program. Response rates for entrance, exit, and follow-up surveys were 100%, 84.9%, and 96.2%, respectively. Of the participants who left and responded, 89/101 (88.9%) obtained school/research positions supported by our program reference letter. Further, 72.6% ranked their satisfaction with the program at least a 7 on a 10-point categorical scale, and 82.9% reported that they "agreed/strongly agreed" that the program helped with their career goals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A volunteer student program is in high demand for university students interested in health sciences/research and potentially has a beneficial career impact for its participants.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Patrick E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Steadman
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crudden
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Taline
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naranian
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: John Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Oliveria
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boutis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000193:education; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006758:Hospital Volunteers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007586:Job Application; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012570:School Admission Criteria / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: data collection; education; emergency care; funding; hospital volunteers; research; volunteer