1997 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
THE EFFECT OF PROTOCOLS ON RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS SELF PERCEPTIONS; EXPERIENCE IN A LARGE TEACHING HOSPITAL
Penelope G. Valentik BA, RRT, RPFT, and Robert W. Messenger BS, RRT. Respiratory Care Division - Pulmonary Services Department, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
Introduction: Our Department developed and implemented respiratory care protocols allowing the Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs) to assess, modify, or stop therapy. We sought to determine how this expanded role was perceived by the RCP in our Department. Method: A twelve question survey was developed and distributed to our RCPs. The survey was designed to determine how the RCPs felt the protocols effected the care given to patients and how RCPs perceive their role change. Fifty-seven surveys were distributed to our RCPs. Results: Twenty-six of the fifty-seven surveys sent were completed and anonymously returned (46%). Twenty of the respondents (77%) have been RCPs for six years or more. Six respondents (23%) have been RCPs for less than six years. The tables below delineate the responses:
Workload Significant Decrease No Change Increase Significant
Decrease Increase
RCP < 6 yrs. 0 (0%) 3 (12%) 0 (0%) 1 (4%) 2 (8%)
RCP >=6 yrs. 1 (4%) 4 (15%) 5 (19%) 8 (30%) 2 (8%)
Quality of Work Significant Decrease No Change Increase Significant
Decrease Increase
RCP < 6 yrs. 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (8%) 4 (15%)
RCP >=6 yrs. 0 (0%) 0 (0%0 3 (12%) 13 (50%) 4 (15%)
Appropriateness Significant Decrease No Change Increase Significant
Decrease Increase
RCP < 6 yrs. 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 5 (19%) 1 (4%)
RCP >=6 yrs. 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (4%) 12 (46%) 7 (27%)
Professional Significant Decrease No Change Increase Significant
image Decrease Increase
RCP < 6 yrs. 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 4 (15%) 2 (8%)
RCP >=6 yrs. 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 2 (8%) 15 (57%) 3 (12%)
Professional Significant Decrease No Change Increase Significant
image by others Decrease Increase
RCP < 6 yrs. 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (4%) 4 (15%) 1 (4%)
RCP >=6 yrs. 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 1 (4%) 15 (57%) 4 (15%)
Conclusion: Although some RCPs thought the workload was increased, the results of this survey show an overall favorable perception of the use of respiratory care protocols and an enhanced sense of professionalism.
OF-97-041