title: Pilot program on distance training in spirometry testing - the technology feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Office spirometry has been widely used in recent years by general practitioners in primary care setting, thus the need for stricter monitoring of the quality of spirometry has been recognized.
  
  
  METHODS
  A spirometry counseling network of outpatients clinics was created in Poland using portable spirometer Spirotel. The spirometry data were transferred to counseling centre once a week. The tests sent to the counseling centre were analyzed by doctors experienced in the analysis of spirometric data. In justified cases they sent their remarks concerning performed tests to the centres via e-mail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We received 878 records of spirometry tests in total. Data transmission via the telephone was 100% effective. The quality of spirometry tests performed by outpatients clinics was variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of spirometers with data transfer for training purposes seems to be advisable. There is a need to proper face-to-face training of spirometry operators before an implementation of any telemedicine technology.
authors.affiliation: II Department of Respiratory Medicine, Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Warsaw, Poland. a.nowinski@igichp.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowiński
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romański
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bieleń
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bednarek
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puścińska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goljan-Geremek
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pływaczewski
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Śliwinski
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011044:Poland; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D013147:Spirometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: COPD; spirometry training; telespirometry