Relationship Between Leadership and Respiratory Therapist Well-Being

Abstract

Background:

Prior studies have reported there is an association between perception of leadership and RT well-being, with those with a negative view of leadership being more likely to suffer from burnout. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between respiratory care leadership and well-being.

Methods:

A survey was developed to examine the perception of leadership in respiratory care departments. The survey was emailed to a list of respiratory care leaders in clinical departments, respiratory care programs, industry leaders, and leaders at AARC, CoARC, CoBGRTE, NBRC, Respiratory Care, and state societies. Data analysis was descriptive. The study was approved by the Duke University Medical Center IRB. The relationship between leadership and well-being was investigated asking 8 questions using a Likert scale and reported as strongly agree/agree, neutral, and strongly disagree/disagree.

Results:

We received a total of 96 responses, 55% reported feeling burned out from their work and 56% felt the people in their work environment were burned out. Respondents had a median of 22.5 (14-35) years of experience, 74% were white, 72% worked in hospitals, 50% were male, 45% had master degree, 10% had a doctorate, 30% had a bachelor degree, 45% were director/managers, and 9% were staff RTs. A majority of respondents (75%) agreed that individual well-being is influenced by leadership, 66% agreed that peers have a larger influence on well-being than leadership, 99% agreed that department culture affects employee well-being, 62% agreed it’s an individual’s responsibility to maintain their well-being, 76% agreed dissatisfaction with leadership drives burnout, and 91% agreed leaders with burnout increase risk of staff burnout. A minority, 35%, agreed people suffering from burnout received good support at their institution and 29% agreed burnout results from low individual resilience. Results are summarized in Figure 1.

Conclusions:

Most respondents agreed that leadership influences well-being although most also believed peers have a greater effect than leadership. A minority believed their organization provides good support for those suffering from burnout and few believed burnout results from low individual resilience.

Figure 1 includes the Likert scale responses for survey questions in the study.