Table 4. Perspectives on incorporating further palliative care focus into the respiratory health professional (RHP) role.
| Respiratory Therapists (n = 87) | Other respiratory professionals (n = 36) | Overall (n = 123) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palliative care and management of serious symptoms should be an integral role of RHPs | |||
| Disagree | 3 (3.4) | 2 (5.6) | 5 (4.1) |
| Neutral | 1 (1.1) | 2 (5.6) | 3 (2.4) |
| Agree | 83 (95.4) | 32 (88.8) | 115 (93.5) |
| Chronic disease management and palliative care can be offered to a patient at the same time | |||
| Disagree | 6 (6.9) | 3 (8.3) | 9 (7.3) |
| Neutral | 2 (2.3) | 0 | 2 (1.6) |
| Agree | 79 (90.8) | 33 (91.7) | 112 (91.1) |
| When is the best time to offer palliative care services for respiratory patients? | |||
| At the time of diagnosis | 4 (4.6) | 3 (8.3) | 7 (5.7) |
| At diagnosis of moderate illness (MRC 3) | 9 (10.3) | 4 (30.8) | 13 (10.6) |
| At diagnosis of advanced illness (MRC 4) | 58 (66.7) | 12 (63.2) | 82 (66.7) |
| In the last 6–12 months of life | 9 (10.3) | 1 (2.8) | 10 (8.1) |
| In the last 3–6 months of life | 6 (4.9) | 4 (11.1) | 10 (8.1) |
| In the last month of life | 1 (1.1) | 0 | 1 (0.8) |
| Interest in palliative care training | |||
| Yes | 79 (91.9) | 30 (83.3) | 109 (89.3) |
| Unsure | 7 (8.1) | 5 (13.9) | 1 (0.8) |
| No | 0 | 1 (2.8) | 12 (9.8) |