Volunteer Activities among Medical Students in Syria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Participation in volunteer activities is crucial for enhancing medical students' skills. Research shows that those who engage in volunteer work display significantly superior competencies that are not easily acquired through traditional medical curricula. Furthermore, volunteering positively impacts students' academic performance, particularly during their preclinical years. Purpose: This study examines the key factors influencing Syrian medical students' involvement in volunteer activities to enhance these factors. Method: Conducted as a cross-sectional survey, the research includes 2,084 students from various medical faculties—medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and health sciences—across public and private universities in Syria. A specialized questionnaire was developed and distributed both electronically and physically through faculty-affiliated groups. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors predicting student participation. Results: Findings reveal that 836 students (40.1%) participate in volunteer activities. The most common types of volunteer work among students include academic scientific initiatives (67.7%, n=566 of N=836), non-medical community service (36.8%, n=308), medical educational community activities (25%, n=209), medical service initiatives within communities (13.2%, n=132), crisis response volunteering (17.3%, n=145), and participation in medical social media (17.9%, n=150). Key predictive factors for student participation include urban residency (OR=1.250, p=0.038), prior work experience (OR=2.123, p<0.001), enrollment in a public university (OR=2.467, p<0.001), pharmacy studies compared to health sciences (OR=1.788, p=0.010), early years of university study (p<0.001), and having a volunteering friend or sibling (OR=3.373, p<0.001). However, gender, economic status, and academic performance did not show statistically significant effects. Regarding students' perceptions of volunteering benefits, more than half agreed that it enhances communication skills, improves verbal and written expression, and strengthens their resumes. Less than half believed that volunteering increases opportunities for studying abroad compared to non-volunteers. Conclusion: Given the essential role of medical students in advancing Syrian community development, efforts should focus on reinforcing the influential factors that drive student participation, thereby maximizing their engagement in volunteer work.