title: Differences in the use of spirometry between rural and urban primary care centers in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability and practice of spirometry, training of technicians, and spirometry features in primary care centers in Spain, evaluating those located in a rural environment against those in urban areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 by a telephone survey in 970 primary health care centers in Spain. The centers were divided into rural or urban depending on the catchment population. The survey contacted technicians in charge of spirometry and consisted of 36 questions related to the test that included the following topics: center resources, training doctors and technicians, using the spirometer, bronchodilator test, and the availability of spirometry and maintenance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the sample size was achieved in both settings, rural centers (RCs) gave a lower response rate than urban centers (UCs). The number of centers without spirometry in rural areas doubled those in the urban areas. Most centers had between one and two spirometers. However, the number of spirometry tests per week was significantly lower in RCs than in UCs (4 [4.1%] vs 6.9 [5.7%], P<0.01). The availability of a specific schedule for conducting spirometries was higher in RCs than in UCs (209 [73.0%] vs 207 [64.2%], P=0.003). RCs were more satisfied with the spirometries (7.8 vs 7.6, P=0.019) and received more training course for interpreting spirometry (41.0% vs 33.2%, P=0.004). The performance of the bronchodilator test showed a homogeneous measure in different ways. The spirometer type and the reference values were unknown to the majority of respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows the differences between primary care RCs and UCs in Spain in terms of performing spirometry. The findings in the present study can be used to improve the performance of spirometry in these areas.
authors: Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Márquez-Martín
authors: Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario de la Princesa (IISP), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cátedra UAM-Linde, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Joan B
authors: JB
authors: Soriano
authors: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Myriam Calle
authors: MC
authors: Rubio
authors: Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain ; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Jose Luis
authors: JL
authors: Lopez-Campos
mesh_terms: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain; D013147:Spirometry / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents
keywords: obstructive lung diseases; respiratory functional test; rural health