Focus Group Participants Research Articles

Perceptions of a Buruli ulcer controlled human infection model: How, who, and why?

Infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans causes slowly progressive skin lesions known as Buruli ulcer. An M. ulcerans controlled human infection model (MuCHIM) is likely to accelerate our understanding of this otherwise neglected disease, and may be an efficient platform for testing vaccines and other interventions. The aim of this study was to understand perceptions of this model across a range of key stakeholders in an endemic Australian community setting. We recruited young adults who live near an Australian BU endemic area but without a personal history of BU, clinicians involved in the management of BU, young adults with a personal history of a small, treated BU, and participants of any age with a demonstrated interest in public advocacy related to their personal BU lived experience. Participants reviewed an abridged version of the provisional protocol. A series of three focus groups were then conducted by video, and the transcribed text was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate themes for exploration. Participants universally valued the outcomes that MuCHIM might deliver. The predominant theme was that informed consent required fully transparent communication with potential participants regarding what their participation would involve, how it would impact their lives, and both the expected outcome and 'worst-case scenario'. They also offered actionable recommendations on how best to communicate the tension between the expected outcome and the 'worst-case scenario' of disease associated with delayed diagnosis and comorbidity, as typically portrayed by the media. Participants recommended including images and testimonials from people who have had BU to support the conditions for informed consent. Focus groups also gave a clear sense of who they believed would volunteer for this type of research. This study offers valuable guidance regarding the content and presentation of information to inform potential participants, with focus group participants suggesting a multimodal approach of communication, including lived experience testimonials and clinical images of the expected outcome. This information will inform development of materials for enrolment to adequately communicate risks and expectations to potential study participants.

Burnout in modern-day health care: Where are we, and how can we markedly reduce it? A meta-narrative review from the EUREKA* project.

Burnout is disrupting the health care workforce, threatening the livelihoods of health care workers and the probability of safe and effective patient care. The aims of this study were to describe the evolution and gaps in burnout research and identify next steps to advance the field and reduce burnout. We formed a learning community of burnout scholars and Chief Wellness Officers, sought recent review articles for a meta-narrative synthesis of themes on health care worker burnout, and conducted focus groups with learning community members. In 1,425 systematic burnout studies found in a Medline database search of systematic reviews published since 2018, 68 were retained for analysis. Many focused on individual interventions (e.g., mindfulness), paying inconsistent attention to (a) what comprises burnout, (b) prevalence and contributors, (c) theories underlying it, (d) presence in marginalized populations, and (e) innovative research methods. There was consensus that burnout poses a global crisis, but there was no agreement on how to address it. Focus group participants noted that although burnout research is now "mainstream," health systems commit insufficient resources to addressing it. They proposed that emphasizing organizational finances and patient safety may make burnout a priority for health systems. Despite burnout's progressing unabated, many organizations do not employ known burnout indicators (worker dissatisfaction or turnover) as wellness metrics. Research into organizational contributors to burnout, rigorous evaluation of interventions, and organizational adoption of research findings into systemic action are urgently needed. A well-supported international research agenda is required to quickly move the field ahead and reduce or ultimately eliminate burnout.

Gender Dimensions of Aguu (Socially Excluded Youth) in Gulu City, Northern Uganda

The African social philosophical sense of ‘Ubuntu’ (‘I am because we are’) and the notion ‘it takes a whole village to raise a child’ is at crossroads in the post-conflict Acholi sub-region in Northern Uganda. Society has relegated its social responsibility and moral values to bringing up children. This study fostered a gender-responsive approach to addressing the Aguu phenomenon in Gulu City. The term ‘Aguu’ does not have an accepted single definition. However, it is used to refer to a group of children and persons between the ages of 6 to 35 years who consider the street as their home and family. This makes the concept of ‘family and home’ fluid and temporal. Whereas society considers them a source of insecurity, this study views them as a ‘floating population’ who have been pulled or pushed into the streets by social, economic, and political factors. The study employed a qualitative and ethnohistorical approach, involving individual interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, archival work, and literature review. The study perceived the Aguu as a distinct social network with a unique agency, identity and culture. The street affects the genders differently. Gender-specific vulnerabilities were evident, perpetuating their social marginalisation and exclusion. Understanding the gender dynamic and dimensions of the Aguu phenomenon is essential for crafting sustainable solutions and interventions. These interventions must be gender-responsive, addressing the unique vulnerabilities and experiences of male and female Aguu members.

"This is Why We All Show Up": How Supporting Youth Cultivates Hope, Purpose, and Well-Being of Adult Mentors.

This study explores the development of adult mentors participating in a summer youth program, focusing on how mentoring relationships and shared activities with youth impact mentors' personal and professional growth. The analysis integrates focus group data and participant observations collected over the course of the weeklong program to identify key themes. Findings reveal that affirming mentor-youth connections within the program's youth-initiated, collaborative mentoring model enhanced mentors' sense of hope, purpose, and well-being. However, role ambiguity, particularly around how to collaborate with other adults to support youth, generated challenges for mentors. These insights contribute to the understanding of adult mentor development and adjustment and provide practical recommendations for designing youth programs that foster growth for both mentors and mentees.

Same Conversational Page?

Through surveys and focus group conversations, we studied students' experiences with instruction in writing-intensive (WI) courses at our urban R1 university and their awareness of and attitudes about linguistic and rhetorical diversity. Specifically, we explore discrepancies between students' experiences with languaging, language judgment, and our university’s diversity and our goals as teacher-scholars who seek a university context more ready for writing instruction that embraces linguistic diversity. Echoing Baker-Bell’s (2020) discussion of students’ “linguistic double-consciousness,” our analysis demonstrates the misalignment between the valuing of linguistic diversity emphasized in contemporary scholarship and the perspectives on languaging held by our direct instructional audience: the students at our university. Importantly, while most survey participants agreed that “bringing linguistic diversity into the classroom enhances their writing,” most focus group participants generally implied a much different experience, describing writing “formally” or “in Standard American English,” for classes, with no suggestion that their writing was positively affected by linguistic diversity. This study points us to strategies that will help us get on the same conversational page with students about linguistic diversity.

Self-Management Strategies for Low Back Pain Among Horticulture Workers: Protocol for a Type II Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Study.

Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent and disabling, especially in agriculture sectors. However, there is a gap in LBP prevention and intervention studies in these physically demanding occupations, and to date, no studies have focused on horticulture workers. Given the challenges of implementing interventions for those working in small businesses, self-management offers an attractive and feasible option to address work-related risk factors and manage LBP. This study will (1) investigate the effectiveness of self-management strategies for nursery and landscape workers by comparing within-subject control and intervention periods and (2) determine if adoption and effectiveness differs between participants randomly assigned to review self-management videos only and those who also receive multimodal implementation support. We will also identify contextual factors impacting effectiveness and implementation. A pragmatic, mixed methods, hybrid effectiveness and implementation design will be used to compare back pain with work tasks, disability, medication and substance use, and psychological factors between a baseline control and intervention periods. We aim to recruit 122 English- and Spanish-speaking horticulture workers with back pain, 30 supervisors, and 12 focus group participants. Participants will review short video modules designed to increase awareness of opioid risk and introduce self-management and ergonomic choices and use 1 self-management and 1 ergonomic strategy for 10 weeks. They will be randomly assigned to 2 implementation groups: video modules only or video + multimodal personalized support (checklist guidance, review of video feedback for ergonomic problem-solving, and text message reminders). Questionnaires will be administered at 3-month time points: baseline, pre- and postintervention, and at 3 and 6 months. Qualitative analysis of field notes, open-ended comments, and focus groups will expand understanding of results with comprehensive documentation of the context, barriers and facilitators, and reasons for adoption. The project was funded on September 29, 2023 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, CDC NIOSH; U54OH011230-07S1), as a core research grant for the Southeast Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety. The design, creation, and editing of English and Spanish videos was completed in June 2024 after comprehensive formative evaluation. Enrollment began in June 2024 with anticipated completion in 2027. We hypothesize that both self-management interventions will result in reductions in work task pain and disability and that the video enhanced with multimodal personalized support will result in greater reductions than the video alone. If self-management is effective, mitigating pain positively impacts quality of life, productivity, and retention, while increasing the use of nonpharmacological alternatives to opioids addresses an important public health issue. Implementation aims will help inform reasons for results, barriers and facilitators, and potential for similar interventions in these and similar industries with physically challenging outdoor work. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06153199; http://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06153199. DERR1-10.2196/64817.

A Walk Through Dementia: exploring the effects of a virtual reality app about dementia on students' knowledge and attitudes.

A Walk Through Dementia (AWTD) is a learning resource that shows dementia from the perspective of people with the condition. Its three 360-degree simulation films depict a person with dementia in different everyday situations and can be viewed online or on a smartphone using an app. To evaluate how first-year undergraduate healthcare students react to the AWTD app, what they learn from it and the influence it has on their clinical practice during placements. The app was used as a learning tool during two dementia training days attended by 414 students at Bournemouth University. Data were collected on the day via a post-training survey and four months later via two focus groups with a small purposive sample of students. The survey was completed by 271 of the 414 students (65% response rate) and 11 students participated in the focus groups. Survey respondents found the app easy to use and engaging. They reported a deeper understanding of dementia and felt that the app had changed their attitude towards people with dementia. Focus group participants discussed how they approached people with dementia with more awareness, more confidence and in a more person-centred manner. There are potential benefits of using the AWTD app in dementia education for undergraduate healthcare students, but further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness as a learning tool.

Stressors contributing to burnout among acute care and trauma surgery care teams: a systems-analysis approach

BackgroundBurnout negatively impacts healthcare professionals’ well-being, leading to an increased risk of human errors and patient harm. There are limited assessments of burnout and associated stressors among acute care and...

Nurse-patient relationship boundaries and power: A critical discursive analysis.

Introduction: Mental health nursing is dependent on nurses' ability to engage in therapeutic relationships with patients. The ability to manage professional boundaries is equally important, but less explored. This study aims to address the following research questions: How do nurses define their professional, personal, and private roles? What are nurses' experiences with professional boundaries? What are the implications of nurses' understanding of these boundaries?Background: Nurse-patient relationships are characterized by asymmetrical power dynamics, which places the responsibility of delineating professional boundaries on the nurse. While ethical codes offer guidance, nurses must identify appropriate boundaries in a dynamic process that relies on the clinical context.Research design: This study used critical discursive psychological analysis to examine data from participant observations, individual interviews, and focus group discussions.Participants and research context: We included 16 nurses working in mental health care in this study, comprising 12 in specialist mental health care and 4 in community mental health care.Ethical considerations: The study was registered with Norwegian Social Science Data Services.Results: Nurses defined professionalism as being an educated caregiver who prioritizes patients' needs. Professionalism involves personal engagement, while some personal matters remain private. However, nurses experienced challenges in maintaining professional boundaries, facing dilemmas due to the subjective nature of boundaries and patients' unpredictable responses.Conclusions: While nurses prioritize patients' needs and best interests, this study demonstrated that personal engagement is considered part of professionalism. However, nurses encounter complex dilemmas in setting professional boundaries. Additionally, these boundaries can either emphasize or de-emphasize the power differential in nurse-patient relationships.

Using Digital Storytelling to Address Mental Health Issues Among Latinx Undergraduate Students

This study examines Latinx students’ use of digital storytelling to address mental health issues. Through participant observation and focus groups, we explore participants’ engagement in art-based work within a group mediated context where issues of depression, anxiety, and stress were discussed. Participants achieved relational development and self-actualization through the enactment of three practices: (a) acknowledgment and naming of their emotions, (b) group validation and support, and (c) reinterpretation of themselves as empowered creators.

Recruiting participants for focus groups in health research: a meta-research study

BackgroundFocus groups (FGs) are an established method in health research to capture a full range of different perspectives on a particular research question. The extent to which they are effective depends, not least, on the composition of the participants. This study aimed to investigate how published FG studies plan and conduct the recruitment of study participants. We looked at what kind of information is reported about recruitment practices and what this reveals about the comprehensiveness of the actual recruitment plans and practices.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search of FG studies in PubMed and Web of Science published between 2018 and 2024, and included n = 80 eligible publications in the analysis. We used a text extraction sheet to collect all relevant recruitment information from each study. We then coded the extracted text passages and summarised the findings descriptively.ResultsNearly half (n = 38/80) of the studies were from the USA and Canada, many addressing issues related to diabetes, cancer, mental health and chronic diseases. For recruitment planning, 20% reported a specific sampling target, while 6% used existing studies or literature for organisational and content planning. A further 10% reported previous recruitment experience of the researchers. The studies varied in terms of number of participants (range = 7–202) and group size (range = 7–20). Recruitment occurred often in healthcare settings, rarely through digital channels and everyday places. FG participants were most commonly recruited by the research team (21%) or by health professionals (16%), with less collaboration with public organisations (10%) and little indication of the number of people involved (13%). A financial incentive for participants was used in 43% of cases, and 19% reported participatory approaches to plan and carry out recruitment. 65 studies (81%) reported a total of 58 limitations related to recruitment.ConclusionsThe reporting of recruitment often seems to be incomplete, and its performance lacking. Hence, guidelines and recruitment recommendations designed to assist researchers are not yet adequately serving their purpose. Researchers may benefit from more practical support, such as early training on key principles and options for effective recruitment strategies provided by institutions in their immediate professional environment, e.g. universities, faculties or scientific associations.

Building a resilient organic hemp industry: Survey and focus groups assess research, extension, and education needs

AbstractHemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has many potential uses, including in textiles, construction, human food, animal feed, health, and personal care applications, and was once widely grown in the United States. Despite the tremendous initial excitement in hemp production and expansion of hemp acreage following its legalization in 2018, there remains uncertainty and risk surrounding the crop; major gaps in production and processing knowledge and supply and distribution chains exist because of previous legal barriers. In 2023, a national survey of current and prospective organic hemp growers (n = 140) was conducted to identify major challenges associated with organic hemp production and determine what resources and information are needed to support growth and resilience within the industry. A series of focus groups were also conducted with organic hemp growers, hemp educators, and industry stakeholders, including researchers and extensionists, current and prospective hemp business owners, hemp advocates and organizations, and hemp consultants (n = 39). Survey respondents and focus group participants included farmers across a wide range of farm types and sizes, geographic areas, production practices, and end‐use products. Most current hemp producers surveyed are growing hemp for cannabinoid products. Across the survey and focus groups, and regardless of farm type or end‐use product, the most significant challenges of organic hemp production are related to marketing, sales, and regulations. Despite these barriers, most survey respondents are interested in growing hemp in the future; this includes expanded interest in non‐cannabinoid end‐use products such as fiber, grain, seed, or transplants.

If They Talk, Will You Listen? How Youth Perspectives Should Inform Behavior Management Practices Towards Sustainable School Climate Improvement

Student behavior management remains a pivotal area of consideration for pre- and in-service secondary teachers and administrators alike. Hoping to gain deeper insight into the intersection between student behavior and school climate an action research methodology is employed to invite students into the debate as active school stakeholders. A case study from one inner city high school engaged 25 youth participants in a 6-week long focus group to learn about the research process through the creation and analysis of three arts-based data collection methods: timeline, relational map, and photovoice. Student led analysis of the data demonstrated that student behavior is inextricably linked to the quality of the social aspect of school climate. Healthy school climates which inspire positive student engagement and behavior are ones which: 1) foster positive student-staff relationships; 2) incorporate pedagogical practices which allow for student voice and choice; and 3) encourage the opportunity for redemption following infractions. While restorative measures are presented as effective ways to promote positive student behavior and healthy school climates, stakeholders wishing to authentically transform school systems are cautioned to reflect deeply on power and privilege to dismantle traditional structures for sustainable growth.

Wearable Technology Hesitancy in Industrial Applications

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS Ergonomists and engineers often look to technology to improve workplace outcomes such as safety and productivity. However, hesitancy toward new technology can hinder the adoption of devices such as wearables. In this study, we spoke to industry representatives about the factors that influence the implementation of wearables in the manufacturing workplace. Focus group participants provided several actionable insights to reduce hesitancy in adopting wearables in the industrial workplace. First, emphasizing safety culture and the benefits to workplace safety and health is paramount. Second, the case for using wearable for performance improvement should also be discussed after leading with safety. Finally, organizations should consider voluntary participation in a wearables program with early adopters.

Diverse perspectives on supporting the health and wellness of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are a growing population, frequently living with complex health conditions and unmet healthcare needs. Traditional clinical practice and research methods and measures may require adaptation to reflect their preferences. The perspectives of people with IDD, caregivers/partners, and clinicians were obtained to provide insight into factors contributing to the health and wellness of people with IDD. These, in turn, suggest opportunities for improvements in clinical training and care, and considerations for enhancing research methods and measures. An exploratory design, participatory methods, abductive qualitative approach and thematic analysis were employed. Interview data were obtained in twelve focus groups with people with IDD (n=25), caregivers/partners (n=21), and clinicians (n=27). Particular attention was paid to supporting attendees in focus group participation, with adaptations and accommodations made for communication preferences, and graphic illustrations were provided. Themes emerging across attendee categories that reflect factors contributing to health and wellness for people with IDD include: (1) making healthy choices; (2) participating in everyday activities; (3) benefitting from natural supports (e.g., family, friends, peers); and (4) accessing skilled professional supports (e.g., healthcare provision and payment). Study findings underscore factors related to supporting health and wellness for people with IDD and suggest the importance of autonomy, accessibility, healthy relationships, self-advocacy, and tailored clinical care. People with IDD can be actively engaged throughout the research enterprise to ensure the relevance, acceptability, and accessibility of research methods and measures; promote inclusiveness; and address health disparities.

Social contexts and black families' engagement in early childhood programs.

In the U.S., the federal government and dozens of cities have invested in home visiting programs intended to be universally available at scale to support caregivers of young children. Evaluations find that participation in these programs reduces maternal mortality, improves maternal mental health, and supports children's healthy development. Yet, many parents of young children who are invited to participate in home visiting programs do not enroll. This study fills gaps in the literature by examining how the broader social context affects Black families' engagement in home visiting programs. Via focus groups, survey data from a socioeconomically diverse sample of Black parents across the U.S., and a pre-registered field experiment, we capture views of and experiences with early childhood home visiting programs. We assess the responsiveness of these views to the broader social context and examine implications for interest and participation in home visiting programs. Focus group participants described benefits of home visiting while also expressing concerns about being unfairly judged about their parenting practices and the risk of a home visit resulting in child welfare system involvement. One out of four Black parents surveyed associated the term "home visit" with surveillance (i.e., government scrutiny of parenting), and associating "home visit" with surveillance was empirically correlated with lower participation in home visiting programs. Further, our pre-registered survey experiment showed a causal link between surveillance fears and home visit engagement. Reading a news article about a family's experience with the child welfare system decreased interest in home visiting among Black parents, while labeling a program as "new baby wellness" rather than "home visit" increased interest. Collectively, the findings point to ways in which the broader social context of parenting/parental surveillance negatively affects Black parents' participation in early childhood home visiting programs despite their interest.

Inclusive Online Nursing Education: Learner Perceptions of Universal Design for Learning Approaches

Diversity in age, background, circumstances, and abilities among post-secondary learners has become increasingly common in online nursing education. Thus, there is a need for educators to build an inclusive environment that is responsive to this variety, to optimize learner achievement. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers educators a theoretical framework to proactively design an inclusive online course curriculum that is responsive to varied learner populations and minimizes learning barriers encountered. A convergent mixed-methods descriptive case study was conducted of learners enrolled in a large first-year undergraduate nursing course in Canada, which was redesigned using UDL principles. The purpose of this case study was to answer the research question: How do learners’ rate and describe the effectiveness of instructional strategies used in supporting inclusivity of diverse learning preferences and needs in an online environment. Data was collected in 2020, from a cohort of 230 learners using a survey questionnaire (n=40) and focus group (n=7) by a hired research assistant, for the convergent mixed-methods analysis and resulting discussion. Survey respondents rated accessible course material, inclusive lecture strategies, accommodations, inclusive assessment, and classroom constructs of the survey tool, as being most inclusive of diverse needs. Focus group participants described assessment methods, instructor presence, and UDL based course design elements, as the preferred instructional strategies used in the curriculum, with group work and navigation issues being most problematic. A purposeful selection of synchronous and asynchronous UDL based instructional strategies by educators, which integrate multiple means of engagement, representation, action and expression, offered an inclusive online environment for diverse learning needs.

DESIGNING A BIOEXPERIENTIAL PROGRAM FOR SAFETY, USABILITY, AND ACCEPTABILITY WITH DYADS WITH ADVANCED DEMENTIA

Abstract Dyadic psychosocial interventions that engage both persons living with dementia (PLWD) and care partners (CPs) are increasingly popular. Yet, designing dyadic interventions for advanced dementia is challenging due to mismatched abilities. Here, we describe the initial development and refinement of the Toolkit for Experiential well-beiNg in Dementia (TEND) intervention with a focus on design considerations for safety, usability, and acceptability. TEND is an online bioexperiential program (e.g., storytelling, digital art, and relaxing sounds and imagery) designed to engage PLWD and CPs together, to support positive affect, relationship satisfaction, and emotional well-being. Using a multi-phasic approach consistent with user-centered design, we conducted two focus groups with clinicians (N=10), two with PLWD-CP dyads (N=7), and one with CPs only (N=4) to inform an initial prototype. Then, we conducted eight rounds of workshops with 10 PLWD-CP dyads to inform intervention refinements. Rapid data analysis was used to analyze findings and quickly inform iterative design. Focus group participants highlighted design considerations to avoid inadvertently exacerbating behavioral and psychiatric symptoms; matching the context of use; and promoting individualization, familiar stimuli, immersion, and visual clarity of the online program. After development of an initial prototype, workshop participants informed refinements to include mixed methods of engagement (i.e., voice recognition, typing, and interactive movement); instructions, tutorials, and navigation guides; directive prompts; simplified language; and pleasant sounds. Overall, the program was perceived as safe and user feedback informed refinements to promote usability and acceptability. We highlight design elements of the TEND program that were responsive to iterative user feedback.

Overcoming Cultural Barriers and Building Healthcare Trust: A Mixed Methods Study on Cervical Cancer Prevention Among Arab American Women Across Major U.S. Cities

Background: Understanding why Arab American women have lower adherence to cervical cancer screening compared to other racial/ethnic groups is important. The study aimed to understand attitudes and knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination among Arab American women. Methods: A mixed-method approach was employed, including nine focus groups and an online questionnaire. Demographic characteristics, medical history, screening practices, and attitudes towards HPV vaccination and HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening were assessed. Results: Focus group participants (n = 22) demonstrated varying levels of knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV, including limited awareness of the Papanicolaou (Pap) test. Participants expressed mixed feelings about HPV self-sampling. Among questionnaire respondents (n = 25), who on average had a higher socioeconomic status than focus group participants, 73.9% had undergone a Pap test, with 94% up to date on screening. While 59% preferred self-sampling at home, almost two in five cited concerns about sample accuracy. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the variability in attitudes and experiences towards cervical cancer screening among Arab American women, potentially driven by socioeconomic disparities. Our qualitative results suggest the need for targeted, culturally tailored health education in the Arab American community. Further research should explore effective strategies to engage this underserved group and enhance adherence to prevention programs.

Volunteering in Disaster Management for Development in Africa: Reflections from Bukoba District, Tanzania

Volunteering is an old phenomenon; but it never gets obsolete. It plays a pivotal role in disaster management and development, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This article explores the critical contributions of community volunteers during the 2016 earthquake in Bukoba, Tanzania; highlighting their agency in handling the crisis. Drawing on the social construction of reality theory, this article examines how volunteers externalize their intentions, objectify their roles, and internalize their experiences to create a resilient community response that fills institutional gaps. The paper draws from a qualitative study that applied key informant interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and documentary review to unearth the lived experiences of earthquake survivors’ interaction with community volunteers. Findings reveal that volunteers provided immediate rescue and medical assistance; including quick excavation and transfer of casualties to health facilities, navigated bureaucratic challenges, and fostered community resilience and economic recovery. The article underscores the need for integrating volunteer efforts into formal disaster management frameworks to enhance effectiveness and sustainability, especially in disaster-prone settings and poor neighbourhoods. The article concludes that by recognizing the diverse contributions of volunteers, both formal institutions and community initiatives can better address disaster risks and promote development outcomes.