Status of the Respiratory Therapy Profession in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study

The respiratory therapy (RT) profession in Ghana is a new and emerging field. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess and evaluate the RT profession as a needs assessment to help policymakers and key stakeholders shape the profession in Ghana.

We conducted a cross-sectional study approved by the Institutional Review Board at Loma Linda University. Participants included RTs, RT students, faculty, physicians, nurses, and midwives, who were recruited via email, WhatsApp, and snowball sampling. Data were collected through an anonymous survey consisting of demographic, professional, and attitudinal questions. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, employing IBM Corp. Released 2023. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29.0.2.0 Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

A total of 195 participants were involved in the study from Ghana, with 83 men (42.6%) and 112 women (57.4%), with an average age of 32.33 (SD ± 8.83) years. A majority (56.4%) held bachelor's degrees, with nurses (35.9%) and physicians (21.9%) forming the largest professional groups. The survey found that 64.2% of participants acknowledged a high demand for RTs, yet interaction with RTs was limited due to their limited availability in the region. Notably, 86.8% were familiar with nebulizers, and 80.6% with Ambu bags. The study also highlighted significant challenges in the profession, including overwhelming workloads (64.3%), lack of recognition (100%), and resource shortages. Asthma emerged as the top respiratory condition treated by RTs. The Net Promoter Score for the respiratory therapy profession, at 26.92, demonstrates a moderately positive response, suggesting an increasing need for enhanced interest among professionals in the field of respiratory therapy in Ghana.

To our knowledge, this was the first needs assessment study that evaluated the field of the RT profession in Ghana. The findings indicate robust support for the necessity, development, and expansion of the RT field in the country. Future prospective studies are recommended to further evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the RT profession on patient care outcomes.