Spirometry in primary care.

Validity and interpretation of spirometric recordings to diagnose COPD in UK primary care

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of COPD is dependent upon clinical judgment and confirmation of the presence of airflow obstruction using spirometry. Spirometry is now routinely available; however, spirometry incorrectly performed or interpreted can lead to misdiagnosis. We aimed to determine whether spirometry undertaken in primary care for patients suspected to have COPD was of sufficient quality an...

Knowledge and use of office spirometry for the detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by primary care physicians.

BACKGROUND The importance of office spirometry has been strongly advocated in the pulmonary community, but whether its importance is recognized and accepted by primary care physicians is less well established. METHODS To assess primary care physicians' knowledge and use of office spirometry for the detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, we conducted a brief mail survey on the loc...

Use of spirometry in the diagnosis of COPD: a qualitative study in primary care.

Guidelines that recommend spirometry to confirm airflow obstruction among patients with suspected COPD are not routinely followed. We conducted a qualitative study to identify attitudes and barriers of primary care physicians to performing spirometry for patients with possible COPD. We conducted four focus groups, each with three primary care physicians (PCPs) who practice in an urban, academic...

Spirometry use: detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the primary care setting

OBJECTIVE To describe a practical method for family practitioners to stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by the use of office spirometry. METHODS This is a review of the lessons learned from evaluations of the use of office spirometry in the primary care setting to identify best practices using the most recent published evaluations of office spirometry and the analysis of preli...

Primary care spirometry: test quality and the feasibility and usefulness of specialist reporting.

BACKGROUND Provision of spirometry for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a new requirement in primary care. Effective spirometry requires that tests and interpretations meet international criteria. AIM To assess the feasibility and usefulness of remote specialist reporting of primary care spirometry. DESIGN OF STUDY Comparison of reporting by primary care clinicians and respir...

Respiratory therapists should offer spirometry expertise to local primary care providers.