700 Section - Current state of respiratory physiotherapy in intensive care units of three Ministry of Public Health hospitals in the city of Quito, Ecuador.

To analyze the current state of respiratory physiotherapy in the intensive care units of three hospitals belonging to the Ministry of Public Health, considering the availability of human and physical resources, the techniques used, and the application of clinical protocols.

Design:

This is an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. The study population consists of respiratory physiotherapists working in the intensive care units of three Ministry of Public Health hospitals in Quito, Ecuador. The project was conducted through the application of two surveys, whose content validity was approved by a panel of experts. The first survey evaluates the Descriptive and Functions dimension, while the second evaluates the Academic and Labor dimension.

Results:

The analysis of respiratory physiotherapy in three hospitals revealed an inadequate ratio between professionals and patients, with one physiotherapist covering 10 to 14 ICU beds per shift, limiting care to less than 20 minutes per patient. Techniques such as bronchial hygiene (90%), early mobilization (75%), and assisted cough training (60%) are applied, but without standardized protocols. Infrastructure remains limited, as only 40% of ICUs have respiratory strength measurement tools and less than 30% possess advanced oscillation devices. Compared to AARC, BTS, and ESICM standards, significant gaps were identified, underscoring the need to strengthen staffing and implement evidence-based protocols.

Conclusion:

The analysis of respiratory physiotherapy in three hospitals of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador revealed a high care workload, along with infrastructure limitations and the absence of standardized protocols. Despite the use of recognized techniques, their application lacks uniformity and is largely influenced by professional judgment. Comparison with international standards revealed discrepancies in service organization and resource availability. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing staffing, increasing the availability of technological resources, and promoting continuous training, with the aim of ensuring high-quality, evidence-based care for critically ill patients.