National survey on the roles and training of primary care respiratory nurses in the UK in 2006: are we making progress?
OBJECTIVE
To describe nurse-led UK general practice asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care, and the training undertaken to support it.


METHODS
Questionnaires were sent to 500 randomly-selected UK asthma and COPD practice nurses.


RESULTS
382 nurses (76%) completed the practice characteristics section, 389 (78%) described their asthma roles and training, and 368 (74%) described their COPD roles and training. 96 practices (25%; 95%CI 21-29%) ran designated asthma clinics, 87 (23%; 95%CI 19- 27%) ran designated COPD clinics, and 170 (45%; 95%CI 40-49%) did not run designated respiratory clinics. Of the 255 nurses with an advanced asthma role, 51 (20%; 95%CI 15-25%) did not have accredited asthma training. Of the 215 nurses with an advanced COPD role, 111 (52%; 95%CI 45-58%) did not have accredited COPD training.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients are increasingly being seen outside of designated asthma or COPD clinics, often by nurses with an advanced role. It is important that nurses have the training to fulfil this role.
Upton
Jane
J
Research Project Manager, Education for Health, 10 Church Street, Warwick, CV34 4AB, UK. j.upton@educationforhealth.org.uk
Madoc-Sutton
Hazel
H
Sheikh
Aziz
A
Frank
Timothy L
TL
Walker
Samantha
S
Fletcher
Monica
M
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom