Quality Assurance of the Pulmonary Function Technologist

Haynes, Jeffrey M

doi:10.4187/respcare.01401

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Training courses for conducting quality spirometry testing are available in many countries, which has led to operators following ATS/ERS standards ( 14 , 15 , 49 – 51 ), but short-term follow-up and supplementary training are important to maintain quality ( 52 , 53 ). Operator training and attainment and maintenance of competency must be integrated in any spirometry testing service ( 54 ).…”

Section: Operator Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement

Graham¹,

Steenbruggen²,

Miller³

et al. 2019

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

2,314

1,736

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Background: Spirometry is the most common pulmonary function test. It is widely used in the assessment of lung function to provide objective information used in the diagnosis of lung diseases and monitoring lung health. In 2005, the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society jointly adopted technical standards for conducting spirometry. Improvements in instrumentation and computational capabilities, together with new research studies and enhanced quality assurance approaches, have led to the need to update the 2005 technical standards for spirometry to take full advantage of current technical capabilities. Methods: This spirometry technical standards document was developed by an international joint task force, appointed by the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society, with expertise in conducting and analyzing pulmonary function tests, laboratory quality assurance, and developing international standards. A comprehensive review of published evidence was performed. A patient survey was developed to capture patients’ experiences. Results: Revisions to the 2005 technical standards for spirometry were made, including the addition of factors that were not previously considered. Evidence to support the revisions was cited when applicable. The experience and expertise of task force members were used to develop recommended best practices. Conclusions: Standards and consensus recommendations are presented for manufacturers, clinicians, operators, and researchers with the aims of increasing the accuracy, precision, and quality of spirometric measurements and improving the patient experience. A comprehensive guide to aid in the implementation of these standards was developed as an online supplement.

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Section: Operator Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement

Graham¹,

Steenbruggen²,

Miller³

et al. 2019

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

2,314

1,736

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this role, those with a motivation to excel as a professional may be expected to perform better than someone who pursues sufficient mastery just to meet expectations. 21 In addition to motivation, some minimum qualifications for pulmonary function technologists have been suggested. The most recent ATS/ERS guidelines recom-mend 2 years of college, with emphasis on health related science, particularly in the area of pulmonary physiology and pathology.…”

Section: Quality Issues Related To Pfts Technologistsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulmonary Function Testing

2012

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Pulmonary function testing is often considered the basis for diagnosis in many categories of pulmonary disease. Although most of the testing methodologies are well established and widely employed, there are still many questions regarding how tests should be performed, how to ensure that reliable data are produced, what reference values and rules should be used, and how pulmonary function tests (PFTs) should be interpreted to best support clinical decision making. This conference was organized around a set of questions aimed at many of these issues. Each presenter was asked to address a specific topic regarding what tests should be done, how those test should be performed to answer a particular clinical question, and to relate test results to an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the patient. These topics included testing of adults and children, with concentration on important disease entities such as COPD, asthma, and unexplained dyspnea. Special emphasis was given to discussing reference values, lower limits of normal, interpretive strategies to optimize disease classification, and those factors directly affecting data quality. Established techniques for spirometry, lung volumes, diffusing capacity, exercise testing, and bronchial challenges were compared and contrasted with new technologies, and with technologies that might be part of pulmonary function laboratories in the near future.

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“…Three core elements are essential to capturing valid pulmonary function data: accurate instrumentation; cooperative testing subject; pulmonary function technologist capable of coaching patients during pulmonary function testing; and properly interpreting test result. 27 The management software of the currently tested device is responsible for quality control of maneuvers with a choice of easy-to-see incentives on a full screen during spirometry. The results are also automatically interpreted and displayed on the computer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The accuracy of a handheld "disposable pneumotachograph device" in the spirometric diagnosis of airway obstruction in a Chinese population

Chen

Jiang

Wang

et al. 2018

COPD

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Background and aimIt is desirable to facilitate the use of an affordable, reliable, and portable spirometer, for earlier diagnosis of COPD in China, particularly in rural areas. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement of a handheld “disposable pneumotachograph” (D-PNEU) spirometer with the gold standard spirometer and to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy of spirometric classification of airflow obstruction.Subjects and methodsA total of 241 adult Chinese subjects ranging from healthy to those with mixed levels of pulmonary disease performed spirometry in a conventional body plethysmograph, and using a D-PNEU device in randomized order. The three best spirometric tests were recorded for comparative analysis. A Bland–Altman graph was created to assess the agreement between devices. Using FEV1/FVC <70% as the “gold standard” for obstruction, the accuracy of classifying the severity of airway obstruction for all subjects was assessed. For the specific individuals (n=159) able to exhale for at least 6 seconds, the accuracy of classifying airway obstruction was further assessed. For this purpose, a receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine an optimal cutoff point of FEV1/FEV6 ratio obtained by the D-PNEU device, which matched the global definition of FEV1/FVC <70% by the traditional spirometer.ResultsThe Bland–Altman analysis showed that the between-device agreement for key airflow metrics was within clinically acceptable limits. The D-PNEU device had 87.1% accuracy in the classification of severity of obstruction in all 241 subjects, when using FEV1/FVC<70% as the “gold standard” for both devices. The D-PNEU device had 93.7% accuracy in the 159 individuals able to exhale for at least 6 seconds, when a cutoff point of FEV1/FEV6 was 74%.ConclusionA disposable handheld spirometry device is capable of accurately identifying and quantifying airway obstruction in patients deemed to be at risk, however, caution should be exercised and all available brands should be tested.

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Quality Assurance of the Pulmonary Function Technologist

Cited by 13 publications

References 43 publications

Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement

Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement

Pulmonary Function Testing

The accuracy of a handheld "disposable pneumotachograph device" in the spirometric diagnosis of airway obstruction in a Chinese population

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Quality Assurance of the Pulmonary Function Technologist

Cited by 13 publications

References 43 publications

Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement

Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement

Pulmonary Function Testing

The accuracy of a handheld &quot;disposable pneumotachograph device&quot; in the spirometric diagnosis of airway obstruction in a Chinese population

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Product

Resources

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The accuracy of a handheld "disposable pneumotachograph device" in the spirometric diagnosis of airway obstruction in a Chinese population