Attitudes and practices regarding volunteering among medical graduates from Romania

INTRODUCTION: The public health sector is among the most in need of volunteer engagement. The medical student community may participate in many voluntary activities, such as getting involved in public health programs, organizing community health awareness events, delivering administrative support to local health authorities, or engaging in emergencies or in disaster relief operations. Prior studies demonstrated that students' involvement in extracurricular activities such as volunteering and community service projects can lower burnout, develop stress management skills, and promote leadership, teaching, and soft skills like communication, decision-making, social skills, and empathy; also, volunteering positively impacts academic performance. OBJECTIVES: This study focuses on the assessment of perspectives on the importance of volunteering and factors that influence student participation in voluntary activities as well as on identifying volunteering related behaviors among medical graduating students. The study aims to compare behaviors and attitudes related to involvement in voluntary activities between Romanian and international graduates and analyze these factors throughout time from 2021 to 2023. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2021 and 2023 among 572 medical graduates at the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy (IHUMP) in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. RESULTS: The outcomes demonstrate that most graduates recognized the significance of volunteering. Factors promoting engagement in volunteering activities, as more strongly recognized by students, include valuing personal motivation, appreciating socializing opportunities, and recognizing the desire to offer community assistance. Over 70% of graduates reported volunteering, with significantly higher participation among Romanian graduates (> 80%) compared to international graduates (< 50%). Half of the graduates were interested in participating in voluntary activities after graduation, international graduates being statistically significant more interested in this. Romanian students were more engaged in student exchanges, student organizational and administrative activities, health education and medical support initiatives, as well as volunteering in emergency and medical assistance services, while international students were more inclined towards social and humanitarian volunteering activities. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that enhancing educational and cultural strategies could improve voluntary participation among medical students. This study offers significant insights for mentors, policymakers, and graduates, promoting a collaborative approach to improve medical education and volunteer participation.