A survey on the attitudinal differences between acute and community settings

INTRODUCTION: While challenges facing community and acute care practitioners have been studied elsewhere, this is not the case for respiratory therapists (RTs). This study aimed to examine attitudinal differences amongst RTs in British Columbia regarding challenges faced by acute and community settings. METHODS: A 40-item anonymous online survey was sent to members of the British Columbia Society or Respiratory Therapists. Of the 40 questions, 11 were relevant to the study’s aim. RESULTS: Of 1024 invitations, 197 (19.2%) responded. One-hundred and seventeen (59.4%) self-identified as working in acute care settings, 53 (26.9%) in community settings, and 27 (13.7%) as “other”. Stress- and interpersonal-related challenges showed statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) based on work setting. Acute care had the highest percentage of responses for challenges related to technology, stress, inter-professional collaboration, and training. Community settings had the highest percentage in challenges related to independence and education. Both being equal received the highest percentage in challenges related to problem-solving, interpersonal, communication, and resource management. DISCUSSION: While attitudinal differences exist, they are not extreme. It did not appear that respondents’ primary motivation was to vote along “party lines”. CONCLUSIONS: The setting an RT works in can influence attitudes related to stress and interpersonal challenges. Despite this, one setting is not universally more challenging. Acute care settings can have greater technological, inter-professional, and training-related challenges. Community settings can have greater independence and education-related challenges. Both settings can provide similar challenges with problem-solving, communication, and resource management.