Spirometry is a critical tool in the diagnosis and management of respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD. Accurate interpretation of spirometry results is essential to ensuring appropriate clinical decisions and effective patient care.
Course Structure
This course features:
- Login to RESPTREC® using registration email and password.
- Side bar menu for easy navigation of course content.
- Visible course itinerary to easily track course progress.
- Chapter quizzes to assess comprehension and application of course content.
- Course evaluation.
From time of registration, students have 6 months to complete this course. This course takes approximately 5-10 hours to complete.
Curriculum
Curriculum includes:
- Part 1 – Principles of Spirometry
- This part of the Spirometry Interpretation course covers the principles of spirometry, including:
- appropriate forced expiratory manoeuvers;
- criteria for spirometry acceptability and repeatability; and
- quality control measures.
- Part 2 – Basics of Spirometry Interpretation
- This part of the Spirometry Interpretation course covers the basics of spirometry interpretation, including:
- identifying normal spirometry; and
- identifying obstruction and potential restriction.
- Part 3 – Case Studies
- This part of the Spirometry Interpretation course covers examples of spirometry tests and their interpretation.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives for this course include:
- Understanding the role of spirometry as an objective measurement of lung disease;
- Describing spirometry testing, terms and measurements;
- Describing the criteria for best test acceptability and repeatability;
- Describing the indicators for normal, obstructive and restrictive spirometric patterns; and
- Gaining confidence in the interpretation of spirometry.
Eligibility
Students must meet the following entrance criteria:
- hold a degree/diploma in a recognized health care profession and work in the health care field
- Notice: Completion of the Spirometry Interpretation course does not constitute authorization to interpret spirometry as not all health professionals hold within their scope of practice the authority to interpret spirometry in all jurisdictions. Check with the jurisdiction that you work in to confirm what your scope and authority is.
If there is a question regarding met criteria, acceptance to the program will be made on an individual basis and at the discretion of the RESPTREC® Management committee.
Acknowledgements
The RESPTREC® Spirometry Interpretation course is a collaboration between Lung Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Thoracic Society. The Ontario Thoracic Society Provider Education Program developed an earlier version of this course.
RESPTREC® gratefully acknowledges Dr. Brian Graham, PhD, for his work in creating the current version of this course, and the following key opinion leaders for providing a review of the course content:
- Dr. Allan Coates, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto and Senior Scientist Emeritus, Hospital for Sick Children
- Dr. David Kaminsky, Professor, University of Vermont, co-author of the 2022 ERS/ATS technical standard on interpretive strategies for routine lung function tests, and former chair of the ATS Pulmonary Function Testing Committee.
- Dr. Jeremy Road, Professor of Medicine, UBC, Medical Director PFT Lab Vancouver General Hospital
Study Credits
The hours invested in completing this course can be included in your continuing professional education learning portfolio.
Non-accredited Study Hours
RESPTREC® courses can be considered evidence-based, relevant, non-accredited learning hours within continuing professional development portfolios. The Spirometry Interpretation Course should take 5-10 hours to complete.
