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COPD Resources Primary Care Respiratory Society UK

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Spirometry

Review which healthcare workers in the practice can perform spirometry and interpret the results competently.

Supporting Information:
Spirometry is an important test to confirm a diagnosis of COPD in conjunction with a careful clinical history and examination. In order to meet the NICE recommendations it is vital that robust policy and procedures are in place for access to diagnostic spirometry within your practice. The main factors to consider are the following recommendations from the NICE 2004 guidelines1:
  • ‘All healthcare professional managing COPD should have access to spirometry and be competent in the interpretation of results’.
  • ‘Any healthcare worker who has undergone appropriate training and keeps his/her skills up to date can perform spirometry’
Systems should be in place in practices to ensure quality control of spirometry testing performed on their patients. This role could be undertaken by commissioners or practice respiratory leads.

Resource:
Spirometry Standards Document: Levy ML, Quanjer PH, Booker R, Cooper BG, Holmes S, Small I. Diagnostic Spirometry in Primary Care: Proposed standards for general practice compliant with American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society recommendations.  Prim Care Resp J 2009;18(3):130-147; Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2009.00054

Reference
1. National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). National clinical guideline: Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in adults in primary and secondary care. Thorax 2004:59 (suppl.1) S1-232. Available www.nice.org.uk (Last accessed 24/8/2009)
This series of resources has been produced as a service to primary care by the Primary Care Respiratory Society UK (PCRS-UK) and has been supported by an educational grant from Allen & Hanburys, AstraZeneca UK Ltd and Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd/Pfizer Ltd. The views expressed in the materials are not necessarily those of either the sponsors or the Primary Care Respiratory Society UK (PCRS-UK). © PCRS-UK
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PCRS-UK: formerly the General Practice Airways Group (GPIAG)


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