COPD diagnostic procedure
Conditions
Interventions
GPs will be instructed by an e-learning module on diagnosing chronic airway obstruction/COPD and the role of microspirometry therein, including a practical guide on how to use the microspirometer. Mor
Sponsors
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre
Department of primary and community care
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: General practices with at least one participating GP. These GPs will be asked in the intervention group to use the microspirometer for patients who fulfilled the following criteria: • 50 years or older • (previous) smoking for at least 3 months •Respiratory symptoms that could indicate COPD (dyspnoea, cough, mucus, and/or wheezing) •No previous diagnosis of asthma and/or COPD •If a lung function test had taken place previously, then this must be at least five years ago.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: A general practice who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: • Practices that had a full practice list screening for COPD in the last five years. • General practices in newly-built quarters (i.e., with relatively few older people). A newly-built quarter is defined as build in the last 10 years.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Proportion of diagnostic spirometric assessment to objectify the existence or absence of a chronic airflow obstruction within 3 months after a patients at risk for COPD visited the GP. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Does microspirometry compared to usual care results in: 1) A higher proportion of diagnostic spirometry tests that revealed an airway obstruction (i.e., efficiency); 2) Increased number of diagnostic spirometry test that were requested; 3) Increased number of diagnostic spirometry tests that were carried out; 4) Improved attitude of GPs regarding COPD; 5) Reduced costs to identify one chronic airway obstruction. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactLisette Bemt, van den
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre Department of primary and community care P.O. Box 9101
Outcome results
None listed