This course is designed for healthcare professionals who are involved in the reporting of spirometry in adults (age 16 plus), who have not undertaken formal training or assessment in spirometry.
Those with responsibility for diagnosing or providing ongoing care of patients with respiratory disease, such as Practice nurses; Nurse practitioners; Paramedics; Pharmacists; General Practitioners and Physiotherapists (with airway disease qualifications) are welcome to apply. It is an expectation that there will be another healthcare worker within the clinical area with evidence of competence in performing quality assured spirometry (ie, ARTP full or performing certificate in spirometry) to provide this element of the process.
The course is aligned to the ARTP standards for provision of spirometry training and is delivered face-to-face over one day. Basic computer skills (use of drop-down menus, select and accept options on a digital platform) and the ability to understand and perform basic mathematical operations (multiplication, division, decimals and percentages) are essential to successfully complete the ARTP assessment process.
Course Content
- One day face-to-face training programme to provide knowledge and practical skills in spirometry
- Application to the ARTP to complete assessment of competence
- ARTP spirometry manual (awaiting release of latest edition)
- Monthly tutorials via digital platform to support and guide through the ARTP assessment process
- Tutorial support via email throughout the ARTP assessment process
- Opportunity to observe a spirometry clinic where possible and appropriate
Learning Outcomes
- Revision of basic anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the respiratory system
- Definitions of common spirometric values and reference values
- Quality controls
- Pre-test considerations and contraindications to testing
- Accurate reporting and recording of the spirometric indices and graphical data for an appropriately trained clinician, responsible for placing the results in clinical context, to use
- Clinical correlation of the results within scope of practice
Programme
To support delegates in completing the ARTP assessment, the place of practice will need to commit to providing a spirometer which aligns to the ARTP requirements; has the ability to print z-scores, graphs of all attempted blows and uses GLI2012 reference range as the predicted values and to ensure the spirometer undergoes annual service and calibration by the manufacturer.
Spirometry is an essential lung function investigation used as part of the assessment and diagnosis of a range of lung diseases. To be of clinical value, diagnostic spirometry must be quality assured and only performed by health care professionals who are assessed as competent, able to evidence they have achieved the standards established by the Association of Respiratory Technicians and Physiologists (ARTP).