Impact of Personal, Job Related, and Organizational Factors on Respiratory Therapists' Professional Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory therapists (RTs) were faced with many unpredicted challenges and exposed to higher levels of stress, including risk for their own safety while managing critically ill patients with COVID-19. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among RTs in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a cross sectional, descriptive, survey-based study conducted from July 2020- August 2020. A survey was administered to all active members of the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) via AARConnect. RT characteristics including personal factors, job specific factors and organization factors were collected. Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL Version V) was used to assess compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress (STS). The survey results were analyzed using descriptive, Chi-square and Kruskal Wallis statistics.

Results: A total 218 participants fully completed the survey, 142 (65.1%) were females and 39 (17.9%) were < 34 y old, 107 (49%) were 35–54 y old, and 72 (33%) were > 55 y old. Work experience was >12 y for 144 (66%) RTs. Burnout score was low in 90 (41.3%), moderate in 127 (58.3%), and high in 1 (0.5%) RTs. Secondary traumatic stress (STS) was low in 106 (48.6%) and moderate in 112 (51.4%) RTs. Compassion satisfaction was low in 2 (0.9%), moderate in 123 (56.4%) and high in 93 (42.7%) RTs. Higher burnout was found among RTs with <2 years of experience (P = .001), and lower salary (P = .001). Higher STS level was noted in younger RTs (P = .001), females (P = .001), and RTs with a lower education (P = 0.008). Higher compassion satisfaction was found in RTs that work days (P = 0.005), work overtime (P = 0.006), leadership (P = 0.004) or education/research roles (P = 0.001), those that work in departments where they receive help in managing burnout and stress (P < .001) and overall promote positive work environment where employees feel appreciated (P = .001).

Conclusions: The study identified various factors associated with increased compassion satisfaction such as working daytime shifts, overtime, advanced roles, and departmental environment. Factors associated with compassion fatigue were less job experience, lower salary, female sex, and education level. This knowledge may help guide future strategies and interventions to improve respiratory therapists’ professional quality of life.