Critical Care Experience Shapes Respiratory Therapists’ Attitudes toward Death: A Survey Study

Author:

Lee Ting-Ling1,Chen Jui-O2,Liu Nan-Wei3,Chen Hui-Chin4ORCID,Hsieh Yi-Ling5,Liu Shih-Feng6ORCID,Liu Jui-Fang47ORCID,Lin Hui-Ling48ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Department of Respiratory Therapy, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan

2. Department of Nursing, Tajen University, Pingtung 90741, Taiwan

3. Department of English, National Chengchi University, Taipei 11605, Taiwan

4. Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi 61363, Taiwan

5. Department of Respiratory Therapy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80701, Taiwan

6. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan

7. Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi 61363, Taiwan

8. Department of Respiratory Therapy, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan

Abstract

Respiratory therapists (RTs) frequently encounter death in their work with critically ill patients. Healthcare providers’ attitudes toward death significantly affect their approach to caring for dying patients; however, there is a lack of knowledge on RTs’ attitudes toward death. This study examines how the work environment and personal characteristics of RTs influence their attitudes toward death. Utilizing the Death Attitude Profile-Revised-Chinese questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey compared non-critical care RTs (non-CCRTs, N = 86) to critical care RTs (CCRTs, N = 85). Non-CCRTs displayed significantly lower scores in overall acceptance of death compared to CCRTs (p = 0.015) and a tendency to actively avoid thoughts about death (p = 0.005). CCRTs scored higher in “neutral acceptance” (p = 0.015), and non-CCRTs exhibited higher scores on items reflecting a negative attitude toward death. RTs with shorter professional tenures showed heightened fear of death and avoidance tendencies. Perception of life and death education correlated with higher “fear of death” and “death avoidance” scores (p = 0.001). The findings indicate that CCRTs demonstrate a more neutral acceptance of death. Additionally, experience, sex, mental health status, and life–death education exposure significantly influence RTs’ attitudes toward death.

Publisher

MDPI AG

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