Table 1

Characteristics of respondents

Characteristic
Physicians (n = 173)
Respiratory therapists (n = 52)

Time since graduation in years, mean (standard deviation)
20.3 (9.7)
18.1 (8.4)
Principal work facility


     Acute care
147 (85)
25 (48)
     Weaning
17 (10)
16 (31)
     Rehabilitation
7 (4)
3 (6)
     Chronic care
2 (1)
8 (15)
Experience with tracheostomized patients


     <1 year
1 (1)
0 (0)
     1–5 years
20 (12)
5 (10)
     6–10 years
41 (24)
9 (17)
     11–20 years
71 (41)
12 (23)
     >20 years
40 (23)
26 (50)
Number of tracheostomized patients cared for per year


     <11 patients
6 (3)
1 (2)
     11–20 patients
27 (16)
3 (6)
     21–50 patients
57 (33)
11 (21)
     51–100 patients
58 (34)
18 (35)
     >100 patients
25 (14)
19 (36)
Number of tracheostomized patients decannulated per year


     0–1 patients
23 (13)
5 (10)
     2–5 patients
32 (18)
7 (13)
     6–10 patients
36 (21)
8 (15)
     11–20 patients
30 (17)
10 (19)
     >20 patients
52 (30)
22 (42)

Data are expressed as number (percentage) unless otherwise indicated.

Stelfox et al. Critical Care 2008 12:R26   doi:10.1186/cc6802