The Impact of Respiratory Therapist Workload on Patient Outcomes

The Purpose of the Study

The study aims to evaluate telehealth implementation in respiratory therapy from both patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes perspectives. It also entails discussing how phenomena such as availability, level of care or patient adherence are affected by the application of telehealth technologies in respiratory therapy. This research intends to offer a deep knowledge about telehealth efficacy in that particular healthcare setting, including healthcare practitioners oriented to improve policymakers and stakeholders regarding the potential benefits of implementing interventions taking advantage of chronic disease management delivered by this innovative means.

Research Question

1. What is the relationship between the workload of respiratory therapists in acute care settings and patient outcomes? What aspects influence variation in workloads?
2. How satisfied are Respiratory Therapists with their profession?

Hypothesis

We assume that the growing number of tasks completed by respiratory therapists is linked with poor patient outcomes, such as increased rates of impaired Respiratory complications and more extended hospitalization periods. Besides this, we will also assume that patient acuity, staffing levels, and institutional policies contribute significantly to respiratory therapists’ workload.

Objectives

This research’s central focus is to comprehensively analyze the link between respiratory therapist workload and patient outcomes in acute settings. Specific objectives include:

1. To examine the respiratory therapists’ workload in different acute care settings.
2. To determine the connection between respiratory therapist workload and patient results regarding both domiciliary complications arising from lung ventilation treatments and the bed-day span that reflects hospital length of remain.
3. To establish contributing factors towards variations of respiratory therapist workload.

Literature Review

However, the role of respiratory therapists in healthcare is preeminent, including patient assessments and therapeutic interventions. Patient abandonment has evolved into an essential topic in research as these professionals interact with their day-to-day experiences. This synthesis seeks to identify the factors associated with patient outcomes and capture their context regarding clinical workload according to the burden of respiratory therapists. Workload challenges and stressors are among these factors. Respiratory therapist’s challenges related to workload show everyday stressors that affect the quality of care. Miller et al. (2021) report high patient acuity, time pressures, and complex case management, leading to elevated workload stress levels in the healthcare sector.

Patient Outcomes and Timely Interventions also affect day-to-day operations. Research highlights the significance of timely interventions and further articulates how respiratory therapist workload influences patient results. As Spirczak et al. (2022) stated, the rising workload results in delayed critical respiratory care, possibly contributing to adverse patient outcomes. On the other hand, Quality of Care and Adherence to Protocols help respiratory care quality to be closely linked to the ability of therapists to adhere to protocols.

Organizational factors and support systems are also some of the most critical issues in the literature when organizational factors affect the workload of respiratory therapists. Robert et al. (2022) demonstrate the importance of administrative support systems by stating that sufficient staff, training opportunities, and a pleasant working environment affect workload management, affecting patient outcomes—Professional Development and Training. The literature shows the necessity of continuing professional development and training in addressing the workload challenges. However, it has been revealed that respiratory therapists who participate in distance education have better workload management skills, leading to positive patient outcomes. This coincides with the belief that investing in respiratory therapists’ professional development is essential for high-quality practice.

Statistical Tools

For data analysis, we will use multiple regression Analysis. This statistical approach will enable us to evaluate the correlation between respiratory therapist workload and different indicators of patients’ outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders such as patient acuity or staffing levels. Multiple regression allows the investigation of complex interdependencies in a dataset and reveals the contribution levels of several antecedents affecting the dependent (variable).

Methodology

Data Collection. The data will be collected using a mix of surveys, interviews, and retrospective analysis of patient’s records. The respiratory therapists in different healthcare facilities will receive surveys that pinpoint self-determined workload levels, perceptions, and experiences. Qualitative data on what is driving the workload will be obtained using interviews. Clinical data and outcomes will be extracted from patient records.

Sample Population

The study will involve respiratory therapists who work in different acute care settings, such as hospitals and intensive care units. Data on various patients suffering from respiratory-related diseases will be obtained.

Research Design

This research uses a mixed methods approach of presenting the results through surveys and patients’ records coupled with qualitative interviews. This strategy will allow for a thorough analysis of the research question, providing statistical support and detailed contextual information.

Institutional Approvals

It will be ensured that IRB ethical approval is obtained from every participating healthcare facility. Informed consent will be accepted from respiratory therapists and the patients whose records will be reviewed.

Results

The research findings will be presented in the form of extensive analysis, including descriptive statistics for workload levels, regression coefficients, and themes derived from qualitative data collected during interviews. Results about the current body of knowledge and practical implications for healthcare providers will be reviewed.

Conclusion

The study presented here will have a positive addition to existing knowledge about the effects of workload from respiratory therapy on patient outcomes. Understanding the factors contributing to workload and their consequences will help healthcare institutions implement interventions to achieve the best respiratory care practices. The outcomes of this research may generate policy changes, staffing decisions, and training plans to improve the quality of respiratory therapy services, thus leading to improved patient care in acute settings. Overall, the results of this study can create required policy shifts in staffing along with development plans to upgrade quality respiratory therapy services resulting ultimately into better care for pediatric patients in emergency settings.

Reference

Boehm, L. M., Dietrich, M. S., Vasilevskis, E. E., Wells, N., Pandharipande, P., Ely, E. W., & Mion, L. C. (2017). Perceptions of workload burden and adherence to ABCDE bundle among intensive care providers. American Journal of Critical Care, 26(4), e38-e47. https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2017544

Miller, A. G., Roberts, K. J., Smith, B. J., Burr, K. L., Hinkson, C. R., Hoerr, C. A., … & Strickland, S. L. (2021). Prevalence of burnout among respiratory therapists amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Respiratory Care, 66(11), 1639-1648. https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.09283

Roberts, K. J., Silvestri, J. A., Klaiman, T., Gutsche, J. T., Jablonski, J., Fuchs, B. D., & Mikkelsen, M. E. (2022). Well-being among respiratory therapists in an academic medical centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respiratory Care, 67(12), 1588-1596. https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.10094

Spirczak, A., Kaur, R., & Vines, D. L. (2022). Burnout among respiratory therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy: CJRT= Revue Canadienne de la Thérapie Respiratoire: RCTR, 58, 191.https://10.29390/cjrt-2022-049