Introduction: Respiratory therapy is essential for the management of critically ill patients in intensive care units. Despite the increase in the training of respiratory physiotherapists and the growing availability of hospital beds, the lack of official data makes it difficult to assess its development and compare current clinical practice with evidence-based recommendations issued by international organizations.

Objective: 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 employed, and the implementation of clinical protocols.

Methodology: 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.

Expected results: It is expected to identify deficiencies that affect the performance of respiratory physiotherapists by evaluating the relationship between their number and the number of patients treated, as well as the techniques and procedures applied. This analysis will help identify areas requiring updates or additional training and, by comparing clinical practice with national and international standards, propose strategies to optimize care and improve clinical performance quality.

Keywords: respiratory therapy, hospital respiratory therapy service, respiratory physiotherapy, intensive care unit, ICU.

Gabriela Tonato, PT, holds a degree in Physical Therapy from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador and a Master’s in Respiratory and Cardiac Physiotherapy from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. She is a specialist in respiratory rehabilitation at the Hospital de Especialidades Eugenio. With over five years of experience in critical care, research, and teaching, she actively trains future respiratory physiotherapists at leading universities in Ecuador, promoting the application of evidence-based techniques. Her career combines innovative research, advanced clinical practice, and continuous education, leading to scientific publications aimed at optimizing outcomes for critically ill patients and strengthening the skills of healthcare professionals.