Advanced Practice Respiratory Therapy in the State of California: A Cross-Sectional Needs Assessment Study.

Abstract

Introduction: As the respiratory therapy (RT) profession in the United States discusses the establishment of the Advanced Practice in Respiratory Therapy (APRT) profession, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of the respiratory therapy community in the state of California (CA) on the need to start the APRT profession within the state.

Methods: This was a descriptive pilot cross-sectional anonymous study that was approved by the institutional review board at Loma Linda University. Survey was sent via Email to program directors, faculty, students, bedside RTs, and hospital managers/directors by The Respiratory Care Board of CA, and the California Society in Respiratory Care to be sent out to their constituents.

Results: A total of 1030 responded to the survey. Of the respondents, 50.6% were males and 48.1% females, with mean age of 45.7 ± 13.1 years. Most were practicing RTs (74.2%). Majority of the respondents held at least a bachelor's degree and worked in a mid-size hospital. An overwhelming majority of the respondents supported the establishment of APRT in CA (91.9%). When asked about APRT educational level, 56% recommended a graduate degree. Nearly 56% of the respondents had knowledge of APRT prior to the survey, with 68.1% of them showing interest in applying for an APRT program once established. The main identified barriers to implementation were acceptance among other advanced practice providers, acceptance among physicians, legislation, scope of practice, and reimbursement. A majority believed that APRT should require a separate license, 71.7%. Chi-Square results showed that those with higher education were more supportive of APRT than those with high school, p = 0.015.

Conclusion: The results of this pilot study show the strong support of the respiratory therapy workforce in California for establishing APRT. In addition, respondents believed that APRT should have its own separate license and those holding higher education were more supportive to establish APRT within the state. Further research is needed by surveying physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants on the need for APRT within the state.