Table 2.

Factors Considered in the Clinical Management of COVID-19 Patients and the Maintenance of Ventilators (N= 502)*

Characteristics	Values
Initial diagnostic tool used for therapy initiation
● Arterial Blood Gas	241 (48%)
● Chest Imaging	42 (8.4%)
● Clinical Presentation	188 (37.5%)
● All of the Above	31 (6.2%)
Available protocols
● HFNC	195 (38.8%)
● NIV	284 (56.6%)
● IMV	416 (82.9%)
Used COVID-19 guidelines
● Own practice	197 (39.2%)
● National	307 (61.2%)
● WHO	239 (47.6%)
● AARC	128 (25.5%)
● NICE	63 (12.5%)
● ANZICS	29 (5.8%)
● SCCM	197 (39.2%)
Initial ventilation strategy based on severity
MILD
HFNC	270 (53.8%)
NIV	123 (24.5%)
IMV	24 (4.8%)
Moderate
HFNC	87 (17.3%)
NIV	236 (47%)
IMV	130 (25.9%)
SEVERE
HFNC	5 (1%)
NIV	15 (3%)
IMV	462 (92%)
Ventilator management
Suctioning system used
Open	35 (7%)
Closed	467 (93%)
Ventilator system check
As needed	270 (53.8%)
Every 1–2 hours	53 (10.6%)
Every 2 hours	67 (13.3%)
Every 4 hours	112 (22.3%)

Note: *All percentages are expressed corresponding to the total number of respondents.

Abbreviations: AARC, American Association for Respiratory Care; ANZICS, Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society; HFNC, high flow nasal cannula; IMV, invasive mechanical ventilation; NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; NIV, noninvasive ventilation; SCCM, Society of Critical Care Medicine; WHO, World health Organization.