Exploration of therapists’ views of practice within critical care

Introduction Therapists are increasing recognised as core members of the critical care multiprofessional team. Each therapy profession provides specialist assessments and interventions, but also work collaboratively across the rehabilitation pathway. Despite inclusion in several national guidance do...

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Main Authors: Gemma Jones, James Bruce, Judith Merriweather, Una Jones, Julie Highfield, Paul Twose, Mina Bharal, Penelope Firshman, Vicky Newey, Helen Newman, Claire Rock, Ella Terblanche MBE, Sarah Wallace OBE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-01-01
Series:BMJ Open Respiratory Research
Online Access:https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001086.full
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author Gemma Jones
James Bruce
Judith Merriweather
Una Jones
Julie Highfield
Paul Twose
Mina Bharal
Penelope Firshman
Vicky Newey
Helen Newman
Claire Rock
Ella Terblanche MBE
Sarah Wallace OBE
author_facet Gemma Jones
James Bruce
Judith Merriweather
Una Jones
Julie Highfield
Paul Twose
Mina Bharal
Penelope Firshman
Vicky Newey
Helen Newman
Claire Rock
Ella Terblanche MBE
Sarah Wallace OBE
author_sort Gemma Jones
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Therapists are increasing recognised as core members of the critical care multiprofessional team. Each therapy profession provides specialist assessments and interventions, but also work collaboratively across the rehabilitation pathway. Despite inclusion in several national guidance documents, there remains a lack of evidence regarding the perceived role of therapists working within critical care, the unique contributions of each profession and opinion on the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of each therapy profession.Method A descriptive qualitative methodology was used involving seven focus groups. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit therapists via professional specialist interest groups. All focus groups were uniprofessional and discussions based on a predesigned framework. Data were analysed thematically.Results Participants (n=65) from across the UK were recruited to seven focus groups with an average of 18.3 years postgraduate clinical experience of which 11.6 years was within critical care. Three core themes were generated from 875 codes and 237 potential subthemes. The final themes were (1) professional characteristics; (2) multidisciplinary team and (3) staffing. An additional theme of ‘COVID-19 pandemic’ was also identified. Findings were similar across all profession groups particularly regarding the need for holistic, patient-centred care. Expected variation was observed for professional characteristics especially regarding specific assessments and interventions.Discussion Therapy services are an essential component to the delivery of critical care especially regarding recovery and rehabilitation. Through three core themes, this qualitative study has provided new evidence of the perceptions and opinions of the role that therapists undertake within critical care.
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spelling doaj-art-c941b0888281468ebbc94312aa316ba12024-11-24T01:50:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Respiratory Research2052-44392021-01-018110.1136/bmjresp-2021-001086Exploration of therapists’ views of practice within critical careGemma Jones0James Bruce1Judith Merriweather2Una Jones3Julie Highfield4Paul Twose5Mina Bharal6Penelope Firshman7Vicky Newey8Helen Newman9Claire Rock10Ella Terblanche MBE11Sarah Wallace OBE12Speech and Language Therapy Department, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UKOccupational Therapy Department, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Torquay, UKDietetics Department, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKSchool of Health Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UKCardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UKPhysiotherapy Department, Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board, Cardiff, UKNutrition and Dietetics Department, London North West Hospitals University Trust, London, UKOccupational Therapy Department, King`s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKPhysiotherapy Department, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UKSpeech and Language Therapy Department, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKOccupational Therapy Department, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basildon, UKDietetics Department, St George`s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKSpeech and Language Therapy Department, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UKIntroduction Therapists are increasing recognised as core members of the critical care multiprofessional team. Each therapy profession provides specialist assessments and interventions, but also work collaboratively across the rehabilitation pathway. Despite inclusion in several national guidance documents, there remains a lack of evidence regarding the perceived role of therapists working within critical care, the unique contributions of each profession and opinion on the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of each therapy profession.Method A descriptive qualitative methodology was used involving seven focus groups. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit therapists via professional specialist interest groups. All focus groups were uniprofessional and discussions based on a predesigned framework. Data were analysed thematically.Results Participants (n=65) from across the UK were recruited to seven focus groups with an average of 18.3 years postgraduate clinical experience of which 11.6 years was within critical care. Three core themes were generated from 875 codes and 237 potential subthemes. The final themes were (1) professional characteristics; (2) multidisciplinary team and (3) staffing. An additional theme of ‘COVID-19 pandemic’ was also identified. Findings were similar across all profession groups particularly regarding the need for holistic, patient-centred care. Expected variation was observed for professional characteristics especially regarding specific assessments and interventions.Discussion Therapy services are an essential component to the delivery of critical care especially regarding recovery and rehabilitation. Through three core themes, this qualitative study has provided new evidence of the perceptions and opinions of the role that therapists undertake within critical care.https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001086.full
spellingShingle Gemma Jones
James Bruce
Judith Merriweather
Una Jones
Julie Highfield
Paul Twose
Mina Bharal
Penelope Firshman
Vicky Newey
Helen Newman
Claire Rock
Ella Terblanche MBE
Sarah Wallace OBE
Exploration of therapists’ views of practice within critical care
BMJ Open Respiratory Research
title Exploration of therapists’ views of practice within critical care
title_full Exploration of therapists’ views of practice within critical care
title_fullStr Exploration of therapists’ views of practice within critical care
title_full_unstemmed Exploration of therapists’ views of practice within critical care
title_short Exploration of therapists’ views of practice within critical care
title_sort exploration of therapists views of practice within critical care
url https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/8/1/e001086.full
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