Xu Jianfeng, Cheng Pengfei, Yu Hangqing, Zhou Niya, Lan Meijuan
Department of Nursing, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Front Med (Lausanne). 2024 Aug 29;11:1452508. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1452508. eCollection 2024.
Respiratory therapists (RTs) play a vital role in healthcare, specializing in the treatment and management of heart and lung conditions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the importance of RTs, little attention has been paid to RTs in the Chinese health system. This study aimed to understand and describe the work experiences and career development expectations of RTs in China.
This study utilized a qualitative research design and conducted semi-structured, in-depth, audio-recorded interviews with 16 RTs aged 28-40 years, purposively selected from six regions in mainland China from May to June 2024. Qualitative thematic content analysis was conducted to identify and group the themes that emerged from the discourse. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Four key themes were identified: (1) "Complex Career Motivation" delves into the career trajectories and role adaptations of RTs; (2) "Positive Career Feedback" explores feelings of job satisfaction and career accomplishments; (3) "Uncertain Career Predicament" sheds light on the negative impact of multidimensional career challenges; (4) "Demand-Driven Future Outlook" reflects RTs' urgent expectations for professional advancement.
The barriers and facilitators in the professional journey of Chinese RTs maintain a fragile balance, and the future development of the profession may determine whether they can persist in their careers. Healthcare managers and leaders should pay attention to the real needs of RTs, enhance their professional confidence, and adopt effective coping strategies to avoid the loss of human resources and promote the development of the professional team.
呼吸治疗师（RTs）在医疗保健中发挥着至关重要的作用，专门从事心肺疾病的治疗和管理，尤其是在新冠疫情期间。尽管呼吸治疗师很重要，但中国医疗系统对他们的关注却很少。本研究旨在了解和描述中国呼吸治疗师的工作经历和职业发展期望。
本研究采用定性研究设计，于2024年5月至6月从中国大陆六个地区有目的地选取了16名年龄在28至40岁之间的呼吸治疗师，进行了半结构化、深入的录音访谈。进行定性主题内容分析，以识别和归类从话语中浮现的主题。访谈进行了转录，并使用主题分析进行分析。
确定了四个关键主题：（1）“复杂的职业动机”深入探讨了呼吸治疗师的职业轨迹和角色适应；（2）“积极的职业反馈”探索工作满意度和职业成就感；（3）“不确定的职业困境”揭示了多维度职业挑战的负面影响；（4）“需求驱动的未来展望”反映了呼吸治疗师对职业发展的迫切期望。
中国呼吸治疗师职业发展中的障碍和促进因素维持着一种脆弱的平衡，该职业的未来发展可能决定他们是否能坚持从事自己的职业。医疗保健管理人员和领导者应关注呼吸治疗师的实际需求，增强他们的职业信心，并采取有效的应对策略，以避免人力资源流失，促进专业团队的发展。
