Abstract
Aim
To examine whether exposure to the Spirometry Fundamentals™ CD-ROM results in improved quality of spirometry testing in primary care.
Methods
Spirometry tests performed in 20 intervention and 19 control practices were analysed using American Thoracic Society grades A and B for ‘passing’ and grades C, D and F for ‘failing’. Intervention effects on spirometry quality were assessed using random effects multivariate logistic regression.
Results
Adjusted analyses revealed no intervention effect. The likelihood of passing tests was higher in paediatrics-only practices (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32 to 5.12; p=0.01). Hospital or university-based clinics had a lower performance than private or community-based practices in unadjusted analysis (7% vs. 22% passing tests; p=0.05). However, this relationship was not significant in adjusted analyses.
Conclusions
Spirometry Fundamentals™ is insufficient to improve the quality of spirometry in primary care, suggesting the need for more comprehensive multifaceted training resources.
Keywords: spirometry, asthma, COPD, quality, primary care
Full Text
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Footnotes
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest in relation to this article.