Perceptions and Barriers to Degree Advancement of Respiratory Therapists

Background: The profession of respiratory care has not seen an increase in minimum education requirements in over 40 years; however, the roles and responsibilities of providers have dramatically increased. Although degree advancement (DA) opportunities have increased exponentially to support respiratory therapists (RTs) pursue higher levels of education, the number of RTs who pursue a baccalaureate-level degree remain a small percentage of practitioners, indicating that barriers to advancement exist. The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions and barriers to DA among active RTs. Method: This cross-sectional study utilized a web-based survey to glean descriptive and qualitative information related to the study questions. The survey was conducted using Qualtrics software and released via a social media platform with a specific audience of over 60,000 practicing RTs. Results: Responses from 785 RTs were included in the final analysis. Relevant findings identified variables such as age, time in the field, likelihood and rate of tuition reimbursement, and compensation post completion of DA all represented perceived barriers to DA. Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions revealed four predominant themes in the perception of DA in respiratory care. These themes included the perception of irrelevance, insurmountable alterations to lifestyle, cost of DA, and age in the context of benefits to DA. Conclusions: Findings support the need for institutions to encourage RTs who are concerned about the cost to return for DA. Other factors such as age and years of experience also play large roles in an individual's choice to return for DA. However, individuals who found financial barriers were more likely to signify a positive indication to return for DA; therefore, it is vital to provide a level of tuition reimbursement to minimize this barrier.