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Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is reforming healthcare, particularly in respiratory medicine and critical care, by utilizing big and synthetic data to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic benefits. This survey aimed to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of respiratory therapists (RTs) regarding AI to effectively incorporate these technologies into the clinical practice. Methods: The study approved by the institutional review board, aimed at the RTs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The validated questionnaire collected reflective insights from 448 RTs in Saudi Arabia. Descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square test were used to evaluate the significance of the data. Results: The survey revealed a nearly equal distribution of genders (51% female, 49% male). Most respondents were in the 20-25 age group (54%), held bachelor's degrees (69%), and had 0-5 years of experience (73%). While 28% had some knowledge of AI, only 8.5% had practical experience. Significant gender disparities in AI knowledge were noted (p < 0.001). Key findings included 59% advocating for basics of AI in the curriculum, 51% believing AI would play a vital role in respiratory care, and 41% calling for specialized AI personnel. Major challenges identified included knowledge deficiencies (23%), skill enhancement (23%), and limited access to training (17%). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study highlights differences in the levels of knowledge and perceptions regarding AI among respiratory care professionals, underlining its recognized significance and futuristic awareness in the field. Tailored education and strategic planning are crucial for enhancing the quality of respiratory care, with the integration of AI. Addressing these gaps is essential for utilizing the full potential of AI in advancing respiratory care practices.
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Simulation-based pedagogy has become an essential aspect of healthcare education. However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding the application of simulation-based modalities in respiratory care education. This review aims to address this gap by providing insight into the theory and current uses of simulation, its effectiveness in respiratory care education, and strategies to enhance faculty development. The study utilizes a narrative synthesis approach to review relevant literature and provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. The research involved comprehensive searches of electronic databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, to identify relevant literature, encompassing original articles, reviews, and other pertinent content, focusing on simulation-based teaching and learning in respiratory care education published between 1990 and 2022. Findings suggest that simulation-based education is an effective tool for improving respiratory care education and can enhance the clinical skills of learners. The study concludes by discussing the future of simulation in respiratory care education and the potential benefits it may offer.
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Background: Night shift duties are crucial in the ICU to ensure care continuity, where critically ill patients require round-the-clock care. However, cumulative night shift duties may disturb circadian rhythm, insomnia, fatigue, and depression, and require further elucidation. Objectives: This study aims to examine the negative consequences of various night shift patterns on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health of ICU Workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study examined how cumulative night shift duty affects insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in critical care providers (CCPs). Results: A total of 1006 participants completed this study between June 2022 and March 2023, including 54.5 % males. About 35 % were between 20 and 30 years of age, and Respiratory Therapists accounted for approximately 46.5 % of the entire sample. Most of our respondents (476; 47 %) reported working night shifts, with a monthly range of 8-15 nights. The prevalence rates for moderate to severe clinical insomnia, fatigue, and moderate to severe depression were 42 %, 48 %, and 32 %, respectively. CCPs working 8-15 nights had a 2-fold risk of clinical insomnia than those working fewer than eight nights with (AOR) and 95 % (CI) of 2.12 and 1.41-3.20, while those working ≥16 nights per month had a greater incidence of clinical insomnia compared to those working <8 nights per month, AOR (CI): 3.09 (1.90-5.03). Only those working ≥16-night shifts per month had a substantially higher fatigue risk compared to those working < 8-night shifts per month, with an AOR (CI) of 1.92 (1.19-3.08). Working 8-15-night shifts per month increases depression risks by 34 % compared to the <8-night shifts group, AOR (CI): 1.34 (0.87-2.08). Those working ≥16-night shifts per month showed a higher depression risk than those working <8-night shifts, AOR (CI): 2.53 (1.53-4.19). Conclusion: A cumulative night shift above eight nights per month is linked with an increased risk of insomnia, fatigue, and depression. The risk of these conditions was significantly directly proportional to the number of night shifts performed per month.
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Background: Performance evaluation in the allied healthcare education sector is complex, making it essential for policymakers and managers to approach it comprehensively and thoughtfully to understand their performance. Hence, the development and monitoring of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in this domain must be considered one of the key priorities for the policymakers in AHIs. Aim: This study aims to develop a framework for the AHIs to extract and profile the indicators, measure, and report the results appropriately. Methods: The authors adopted a general review of the literature approach to study the primary goals of the institutional KPI framework, emphasizing the need for benchmarking while implementing KPIs and how to track performance using a KPI dashboard. Results: The study provides the scope, relevant KPI categories, and a list of KPIs for evaluating the effectiveness of allied healthcare programs. The study findings also emphasized the need for benchmarking the KPIs and establishing a KPI dashboard while measuring and monitoring performance. Conclusion: KPIs are considered an invaluable tool that contributes immensely to the performance monitoring process of AHIs, irrespective of the specialties. This helps to identify and guide AHIs for developing KPIs and the associated minimum data set to measure organizational performance and monitor the quality of teaching and learning. In addition, the KPI framework reported in this study is a tool to assist performance monitoring that can subsequently contribute to the overall quality of AHIs.
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Background: Lung Ultrasound (LUS) had proved to be beneficial in detecting respiratory disorders at the bedside. Understanding the important role of Respiratory Therapists (RTs) in the critical care, we aimed to assess their knowledge, perceived relevance of LUS to clinical practice, current skill gaps, and barriers to practice. Methods: A cross-sectional, nationwide survey conducted among the RTs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The validated questionnaire included 4 sections; the demographics, knowledge and perceptions, applicability and self-reported proficiency, and barriers to the use of LUS by RTs. Results: A total of 256 RTs across different regions of Saudi Arabia participated in this survey. 71.9% of them were males, and 46.1% of the participants were having <5 years of working experience. Only (18.1%) of the participants used LUS in their clinical practice, and (43%) of them had never received any training. 66% of the participants perceived LUS as an effective tool in the RT practice and immensely valuable in their daily practice (70%). A large proportion of RTs perceived LUS to be ineffective in calculating the lung score (50.4%), assessing the diaphragm (40.2%), and detecting pulmonary edema (38.3%). Calculating lung score has a lower mean score of 2.55 on both skills, and identifying its applicability to clinical practice with a mean score of 2.71 than other indications. Lack of training and curriculum (154/256; 60.2%) remains the top barrier that prevented RTs from using LUS in their clinical practice. Conclusion: While many RTs in Saudi Arabia perceived LUS as an effective tool in the RT practice, considerable competence gap exist, indicating the need for LUS training. There is a need for incorporating LUS into the curriculum of RT schools and promoting competency-based training for the current RT workforce to help improve patient care.