Asthma Programme in Finland: the quality of primary care spirometry is good.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of primary care spirometry by visual inspection of the flow-volume expiratory curve and to study the quantity of clinical information provided on the spirometry report sheets.


METHODS
Retrospective audit of 868 expiratory flow-volume curves referred to three pulmonary clinics assessed against five predefined quality criteria. Clinical information included on the spirometry report sheets was also collected.


RESULTS
Quality was good in 78% of pre-bronchodilation curves and in 80% of post-bronchodilation curves. Obtaining a sharp PEF value and full vital capacity exhalation seemed to be the critical points of measurement. Inter-rater reliability of the curve assessment was mainly good. Data on where the spirometry took place, and comments on the use of respiratory medication and patient co-operation were often lacking.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of primary care spirometry was good. Adequate clinical information on the report sheets would further improve the quality of this diagnostic process.
Tuomisto
Leena
L
Pulmonary Department, Seinajoki Central Hospital, Seinajoki, Finland. leena.tuomisto@gmail.com
Jarvinen
Vesa
V
Laitinen
Jukka
J
Erhola
Marina
M
Kaila
Minna
M
Brander
Pirkko
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates / Q000502:physiology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013147:Spirometry; D055815:Young Adult