Underrepresentation of Respiratory Therapists as Experts in Delphi Studies on Respiratory Practices and Research Priorities

The scholarly and practice profile of respiratory therapists in Canada: A cross-sectional survey

Introduction

Respiratory therapists (RTs) are expected to provide high-quality care for patients with chronic and acute cardiopulmonary conditions across the lifespan by staying abreast of emerging scientific evidence and effectively integrating it into clinical practice. This integration of evidence is encompassed within the competency of scholarly practice. However, there is currently a limited understanding of RTs' scholarly practice. Furthermore, despite RTs' widespread presence in the Canadian healthcare system, comprehensive studies describing the profiles of RTs are lacking. This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics, scholarly and practice profiles of the respiratory therapy profession in Canada.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was distributed via the national professional association and regulatory bodies. The survey contained seven sections with 52 items. We calculated means and standard deviations, or medians and interquartile ranges for continuous variables and frequencies and proportions for categorical variables. Open-ended questions were analyzed using summative content analysis.

Results

We analyzed data from 832 participants (6.8% response rate) from Ontario (17.8%), Québec (15.7%), and Alberta (13.3%), and across other provinces. Nearly 40% had completed an undergraduate degree beyond their respiratory therapy diploma. Few participants had authored or co-authored peer-reviewed publications. RTs reported reading approximately 2.2 peer-reviewed publications monthly. Most participants agreed on the importance of critical reflection in practice (93.1%) and that having a supportive work environment was vital. Almost three-quarters of participants (73.4%) reported that they believe that RTs are valued members of interprofessional teams, and 78% agreed that understanding research enables them to engage in patient advocacy.

Conclusion

This survey provides a portrait of the practice and scholarly profile of the respiratory therapy profession in Canada. While the profession shows potential for growth, concerns persist regarding limited engagement in activities related to scholarly practice. Addressing these challenges and nurturing a culture of scholarly practice are likely necessary to support the development of scholarly practice in the profession. Creating supportive environments, providing access to resources, and encouraging professional development activities may advance the scholarly practice of RTs. Future national surveys could employ random sampling strategies to achieve a more representative sample of the profession.

Mind mapping to enhance critical thinking skills in respiratory therapy education

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of mind maps as an active teaching strategy to enhance critical thinking skills (CTSs) among respiratory therapy (RT) students in Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 86 participants from two RT programs in Saudi Arabian Universities, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and The Batterjie Medical College, were randomly assigned to either the mind map group (MMG) or the standard note-taking group (SNTG). With the quasi-experimental design and quantitative method, mean comparisons were made between the groups using an independent t-test.

RESULTS

There was no significant change between the pre-SNTG and post-SNTG as measured by the health sciences reasoning test (HSRT) after 15 weeks of standard note-taking (SNT). However, it showed the difference between the pre-MMG and post-MMG (P = .02) as measured by the HSRT after 15 weeks of intervention. There was also a significant change between the post-MMG and SNTG (P = .04) as measured by the HSRT, where the MMG had higher scores. However, the study had limitations, which conceded to the failure of participants in the test and the subjectivity of respondents where they were excluded from the study; also, for generalizability of the result, the study should have been taken beyond Riyadh and Jeddah.

CONCLUSION

Prior to this study, the effectiveness of mind mapping (MM) in the respiratory discipline has not yet been explored. It found that mind mapping was effective at improving CTS, while SNT was not, as measured by pre- and post-test HSRT scores. This was the first investigation into MM's impact on CTS within respiratory therapy education.

Exploring knowledge gaps and research needs in respiratory therapy: a qualitative description study

Background

Respiratory therapists (RTs) are expected to stay updated on technology, treatments, research, and best practices to provide high-quality patient care. They must possess the skills to interpret, evaluate, and contribute to evidence-based practices. However, RTs often rely on research from other professions that may not fully address their specific needs, leading to insufficient guidance for their practice. Additionally, there has been no exploration of knowledge gaps and research needs from RTs' perspectives to enhance their practice and patient outcomes. The research questions guiding this study were: (i) what are the perceived practice-oriented knowledge gaps? and (ii) what are the necessary research priorities across the respiratory therapy profession according to experts in respiratory therapy?

Methods

A qualitative description study was conducted using semi-structured focus groups with 40 expert RTs from seven areas of practice across Canada. Data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

We identified four major themes relating to what these experts perceive as the practice-oriented gaps and necessary research priorities across the respiratory therapy profession: 1) system-level impact of RTs, 2) optimizing respiratory therapy practices, 3) scholarship on the respiratory therapy profession and 4) respiratory therapy education.

Discussion

The findings establish a fundamental understanding of the current gaps and the specific needs of RTs that require further investigation. Participants strongly emphasized the significance of research priorities that consider the breadth and depth of the respiratory therapy profession, which underscores the complex nature of respiratory therapy and its application in practice.

Conclusion

The unique insights garnered from this study highlight the knowledge gaps and research needs specific to RTs. These findings pave the way for further exploration, discourse, and research aimed at understanding the specific contributions and requirements of RTs.