Psychological and Occupational Outcomes Among Canadian Respiratory Therapists During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Despite pre-COVID-19 pandemic evidence to suggest that respiratory therapists (RTs) may experience elevated symptoms of anxiety and distress due to the nature of their occupation, the extant literature on healthcare providers (HCPs’) experiences during the pandemic is largely limited to other HCP groups, such as nurses and physicians. Global reports demonstrate widespread adverse psychological impacts to HCPs during the pandemic, including symptoms of depression, anxiety, burnout, moral distress and post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, occupational impacts, namely turnover intention, are increasingly reported as the pandemic persists. This Master’s thesis investigated the psychological and occupational impacts associated with COVID-19 pandemic service among Canadian RTs during the Spring of 2021. A review of the relevant literature on HCPs' experiences during the pandemic is presented in Chapter 1, along with a synthesis of knowledge on RTs. An exploration of psychological and functional outcomes among RTs during the COVID-19 pandemic is presented in Chapter 2. Here, almost half of the sample reported clinically relevant symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and one in three RTs screened positively for likely PTSD. In Chapter 3, we investigated consideration of position departure, finding that one in four RTs were considering leaving. Despite over half of those considering leaving screening positive for likely PTSD, adverse psychological experiences contributed little to the predictive model of departure consideration compared to past consideration to leave. We posit that longstanding organizational issues may play an important role in RTs’ consideration to leave. Overall, these studies expand the literature investigating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic service among HCPs and advance knowledge on the impacts of pandemic service among RTs who have, up until recently, been neglected. Altogether, the evidence presented in this thesis suggests that RTs require adequate mental health supports and resources alongside their HCP colleagues during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.