Abstract：
Professional associations rely on the work of volunteer leaders to serve their members. Little is known about the experiences of individuals who choose to seek and participate in these volunteer roles in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experience of early career professionals engaged in volunteer leadership in APTA.
The study used a phenomenological design to explore the experience of volunteer leadership by novice physical therapists. Physical therapists holding a volunteer leadership position in APTA and in the first 7 years of clinical practice were recruited using purposeful sampling. One-on-one semistructured interviews were conducted. Following transcription, interviews were analyzed and coded using the constant comparison method.
Thirteen physical therapists participated. Eleven themes emerged: (1) internal factors that facilitated volunteerism-Passion, Internal drive, Always involved, Protect and advance the profession; (2) external forces that facilitated and sustained volunteer leadership-Professional role models, Meeting the leaders, Someone asked, Support of others; and (3) behaviors that sustained their involvement-Learning while doing, Future plans, and Encouraging others\' involvement.
Novice physical therapists who volunteer for leadership roles within APTA have a passion for protecting and advancing the profession that leads to their decision to volunteer. Other members including faculty and experienced leaders in the association facilitate their initial volunteerism and help to sustain their engagement. Support from employers, including time off and flexible schedules, and making plans for future involvement were crucial to their continued volunteer activity.
Changing demographics and a limited understanding of volunteer leadership could leave APTA with a limited pool of leaders into the future. Understanding the reasons early career professionals volunteer in APTA can help develop more effective strategies to recruit and retain these leaders.
The study used a phenomenological design to explore the experience of volunteer leadership by novice physical therapists. Physical therapists holding a volunteer leadership position in APTA and in the first 7 years of clinical practice were recruited using purposeful sampling. One-on-one semistructured interviews were conducted. Following transcription, interviews were analyzed and coded using the constant comparison method.
Thirteen physical therapists participated. Eleven themes emerged: (1) internal factors that facilitated volunteerism-Passion, Internal drive, Always involved, Protect and advance the profession; (2) external forces that facilitated and sustained volunteer leadership-Professional role models, Meeting the leaders, Someone asked, Support of others; and (3) behaviors that sustained their involvement-Learning while doing, Future plans, and Encouraging others\' involvement.
Novice physical therapists who volunteer for leadership roles within APTA have a passion for protecting and advancing the profession that leads to their decision to volunteer. Other members including faculty and experienced leaders in the association facilitate their initial volunteerism and help to sustain their engagement. Support from employers, including time off and flexible schedules, and making plans for future involvement were crucial to their continued volunteer activity.
Changing demographics and a limited understanding of volunteer leadership could leave APTA with a limited pool of leaders into the future. Understanding the reasons early career professionals volunteer in APTA can help develop more effective strategies to recruit and retain these leaders.
摘要：
专业协会依靠志愿者领导者的工作来为其成员服务。对于选择在美国物理治疗协会（APTA）中寻求和参与这些志愿者角色的个人的经历知之甚少。这项定性研究的目的是了解在APTA中从事志愿者领导的早期职业专业人员的生活经验。
这项研究使用现象学设计来探索新手物理治疗师的志愿者领导经验。在APTA中担任志愿者领导职务的物理治疗师以及在临床实践的前7年中，使用有目的的抽样招募。进行了一对一的半结构化访谈。转录后，使用恒定比较法对访谈进行分析和编码。
13位理疗师参加。出现了11个主题：（1）促进志愿服务的内部因素-激情，内部驱动器,总是参与，保护和推进专业；（2）促进和持续志愿者领导的外部力量-专业榜样，会见领导人，有人问，支持他人；以及(3)维持他们参与的行为——边做边学习，未来的计划,并鼓励他人参与。
在APTA中自愿担任领导角色的新手物理治疗师对保护和推进导致他们决定自愿的职业充满热情。其他成员，包括教师和协会经验丰富的领导人，促进他们最初的志愿服务，并帮助维持他们的参与。雇主的支持，包括时间和灵活的时间表，为未来的参与制定计划对他们继续开展志愿者活动至关重要。
不断变化的人口结构和对志愿者领导力的有限理解可能会使APTA未来的领导者人数有限。了解早期职业专业人士在APTA志愿服务的原因可以帮助制定更有效的战略来招聘和留住这些领导者。
这项研究使用现象学设计来探索新手物理治疗师的志愿者领导经验。在APTA中担任志愿者领导职务的物理治疗师以及在临床实践的前7年中，使用有目的的抽样招募。进行了一对一的半结构化访谈。转录后，使用恒定比较法对访谈进行分析和编码。
13位理疗师参加。出现了11个主题：（1）促进志愿服务的内部因素-激情，内部驱动器,总是参与，保护和推进专业；（2）促进和持续志愿者领导的外部力量-专业榜样，会见领导人，有人问，支持他人；以及(3)维持他们参与的行为——边做边学习，未来的计划,并鼓励他人参与。
在APTA中自愿担任领导角色的新手物理治疗师对保护和推进导致他们决定自愿的职业充满热情。其他成员，包括教师和协会经验丰富的领导人，促进他们最初的志愿服务，并帮助维持他们的参与。雇主的支持，包括时间和灵活的时间表，为未来的参与制定计划对他们继续开展志愿者活动至关重要。
不断变化的人口结构和对志愿者领导力的有限理解可能会使APTA未来的领导者人数有限。了解早期职业专业人士在APTA志愿服务的原因可以帮助制定更有效的战略来招聘和留住这些领导者。
