General practitioners' needs for ongoing support for the interpretation of spirometry tests.
BACKGROUND
Although one out of three general practitioners (GPs) carries out spirometry, the diagnostic interpretation of spirometric test results appears to be a common barrier for GPs towards its routine application.


METHODS
Multivariate cross-sectional analysis of a questionnaire survey among 137 GPs who participated in a spirometry evaluation programme in the Netherlands. We identified characteristics of GPs and their practice settings associated with GPs' need for ongoing support for spirometry interpretation.


RESULTS
Response rate on the survey questionnaire was 98%. The need for ongoing support among the participating GPs was 69%. GPs' recent spirometry training showed a statistically significant association with the need for ongoing support for the interpretation of spirometry (odds ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.20-0.92).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for ongoing support for spirometry interpretation among GPs. Recent spirometry training partially diminished this need.
Poels
Patrick J P
PJ
Department of General Practice, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands. p.j.p.poels@hag.umcn.nl
Schermer
Tjard R J
TR
Akkermans
Reiner P
RP
Jacobs
Annelies
A
van den Bogart-Jansen
Margreet
M
Bottema
Ben J A M
BJ
Van Weel
Chris
C
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires