ASSESSING RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS’ KNOWLEDGE REGARDING ARDS MANAGEMENT UPDATES

Abstract

TYPE: Abstract Publication TOPIC: Respiratory Care PURPOSE: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a known life-threatening form of acute respiratory failure. ARDS is responsible for 10% of ICU admissions globally,and annually representing over 3 million hospital admissions.In 2014, a study was done in the UK showed substantial evidence that there is a high degree of variance in the management strategies used to treat patients with ARDS across the UK.Moreover, the LUNG SAFE study showed unsettling gap between scientific evidence and medical practice,which supports the need to assess the medical community understanding about the importance of lung-protective ventilation and updated ARDS management overall.Upon our extensive research,we have not come across a study in the KSA that assess the knowledge of healthcare providers in regards to ARDS management updates. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional survey among respiratory therapist across the Kingdom.The questions were adopted and modified from a survey that developed at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. RESULTS: Most of the sample(83.5%)stated that they are currently practicing evidence based ARDS management updates at their hospitals. Half of the responders chose the Berlin definition of ARDS as the diagnostic definition of ARDS.The rest of the information is illustrated in the below graph. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is a substantial variation between updated evidence regarding ARDS management and what is currently being practiced at hospitals across the Kingdom. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Standardizing and assuring the respiratory therapist knowledge about the updated ARDS management is very vital to lessen the discrepancy and to provide better disease management by applying evidence based practice. DISCLOSURE: No significant relationships. KEYWORDS: ARDS, Respiratory Therapist, ICU