Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
Department
School of Nursing
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
I review the current trend of international volunteer travel with a focus on advantages and disadvantages of short-term (1-2 week) medical volunteer trips and how cross-cultural communication can influence the effectiveness of volunteers. Advantages include making health care available to populations who normally do not have access to care. Disadvantages to trips include a lack of follow-up care and community dependence on outside aid. To increase the effectiveness of these trips, it is recommended that volunteers coordinate with full-time health care workers in target communities and utilize pre-departure training.
Advisor(s) or Committee Chair
Professor Jeanette Gullett
Disciplines
Nursing | Public Health and Community Nursing
Recommended Citation
Steele, Kayla M., "Good Intentions?: A Consideration of Short-Term, Medical Mission Trips" (2014). Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects. Paper 521.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_hon_theses/521