2006 OPEN FORUM Abstracts
THE ROLE OF THE RESPIRATORY THERAPIST IN PROVIDING SMOKING CESSATION EDUCATION;
Georgianna
Sergakis, M.S., RRT, Anne Carvi, B.S., RRT, Holly Schmidt, B.S., RRT;
Respiratory Therapy Division,
School
of
Allied Medical Professions
, The Ohio State Unviersity,
Columbus, Ohio.
Background: Hospitalization is an ideal opportunity
for the healthcare provider to initiate or offer smoking cessation counseling. Previous
studies have demonstrated that clinicians do not have the time, education or
skills to take an active role in smoking cessation at the in-patient bedside. The
role of the Respiratory Therapist (RT) in this area
has not been extensively examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the
role of the RT in providing smoking cessation at the
bedside, and to also ascertain therapists' opinions of their position as
nonsmoking role models. This descriptive study examined the frequency, training
and confidence of RTs with regard to in-hospital smoking
cessation interventions. It also addressed the RT's
position as a role model for pulmonary health.
Methods: A survey was
sent to a random sample of 363 licensed Respiratory Therapists obtained from
the list of 6309 licensed Respiratory Therapists in the State of
Ohio
.
The software program SPSS® (Statistical Package for
the Social Sciences) was used to create a database and statistically analyze
the data.
Results: 134 (37%)
surveys were returned. The age of the sample was predominately over 41 (58.9%)
and a great proportion (41.8%) averaged 21 years or more of RT
experience. 76% of respondents were RRTs and 63% had
AS degrees. Respondents indicated that they did ask patients about their
smoking status every time (24.8%) or sometimes (64.8%).Yet only 51.4% felt very
confident in approaching patients and 39% of therapists felt that they were
very qualified to offer smoking cessation counseling. The RTs
viewed themselves as health role models; 94% felt responsibility in role modeling
non-smoking behavior. Only 7 of the 134 RTs were
current smokers. A small percentage (29.5%) indicated training in provision of
smoking cessation from their RT curriculum. According
to the results of the chi-square analysis, RT
education, credentials, location and type of hospital did not statistically
impact RT confidence in smoking cessation counseling.
Conclusions: Respiratory
Therapists need greater responsibility, incentives, and education for providing
smoking cessation. This would contribute to a more active role in smoking
cessation counseling for hospitalized patients which could lead to increased
rates of cessation. Further investigation is needed to examine the smoking
cessation content delivered in RT educational
programs. RTs practicing in the field for a number of
years may not have been trained to provide the patient with smoking cessation
counseling. The current workforce of RTs should be
introduced to educational opportunities in order to increase their knowledge of
and confidence for providing smoking cessation.