Autonomy in ventilatory procedures by physiotherapists working in the intensive care in the state of bahia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a ward intended to the specialized support to critically ill patients or after undergoing a highly complex procedure, who need constant monitoring and care. In this environment, the physiotherapist works to maintain vital functions and helps reduce clinical complications and mortality rates. Furthermore, within their domains, the physiotherapist shares the responsibility for managing methods that replace spontaneous breaths. OBJECTIVE: To describe the autonomy in ventilatory procedures by physiotherapists working in ICUs in the state of Bahia. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study with physiotherapists working in ICUs in the state of Bahia, registered at the Regional Council of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy of the 7th Region (CREFITO-7). In data, collect was used an electronic questionnaire was developed by the researchers. The data collected was analyzed through descriptive and multivariate statistics. A p-value < 0.05 was set as statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, 21.0 version (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, EUA). RESULTS: Were evaluated a total of two hundred and sixty-five (265) physiotherapists who work at an Intensive Care Unit in the state of Bahia, with a mean age of 32.4 ±5.4 years, being 61.9% female. Regarding professional autonomy, 94.3% declared that decision-making about physical therapy procedures in the ICU where they work is the responsibility of the physiotherapists. The highest level of autonomy over ventilatory procedures was observed for the application of non-invasive ventilation (97.7%), followed by weaning from mechanical ventilation (97.4%), indication (97%), and maintenance (96.2%). CONCLUSION: Through this study, it was possible to conclude that physiotherapists working in ICUs in the State of Bahia claim to have professional autonomy in relation to ventilatory procedures, especially for the non-invasive ones.