Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) has worked with National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) to deliver vital spirometry training courses in Mackay, Townsville, and Cairns.

In the latest workshops in Mackay, Senior Respiratory Scientist Darren Smith, and facilitators Kellie Strickland and Gabbi Schaffer provided spirometry training as part of the Asthma Best Practice for Health Professionals Program.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said the course provided comprehensive training in the application, measurement, and interpretation of expiratory spirometry in general practice.

“The six-hour interactive workshop included a practical, hands-on component to allow participants to apply their new knowledge in a practical setting,” said Ms Whyte.

Learning outcomes included:

• identifying the clinical indications where spirometry is recommended
• demonstrating the ability to correctly perform a spirometry test, using role play and peer review
• interpreting spirometry results to differentiate between respiratory conditions, such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• assessing your own practice quality assurance procedures for spirometry.

Mr Smith said the workshops were developed by NAC with presenters using NAC content.

“These invaluable workshops are provided free to participants by NAC with funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care and are designed to ensure that health care workers in even the most remote locations have access to education in the art of spirometry,” said Mr Smith.

“To date, over 28,000 health care workers, including nurses and GPs, have completed workshops across Australia.

“The goal of the NAC workshops is to impart the skills needed to perform accurate spirometry in the community. These skills will enable primary health care centres the ability to detect lung disease sooner, allowing earlier intervention, better management, and overall better health outcomes for patients.”

Practice Nurse Jane Stephens said she had been trying for a long time to attend one of the courses.

She said it was very valuable and “blew my mind”.

“We were shown how to diagnose by doing the testing. It was easy to understand. I was so excited by the end of the course to start using the skills, it was so interesting,” said Ms Stephens.

She said the tests, usually a minimum of three tests, “very easily” diagnosed COPD and asthma.

After returning to her practice following the training, Ms Stephens was able to provide high quality spirometry testing for a doctor, resulting in one patient’s management being altered to better suit their diagnosis.

“It was one of the best courses I have done, and I want to do the course again in six months as I will have so many questions,” said Ms Stephens.

Workshops were held in Cairns (18 participants), Townsville (19 participants), and Mackay (12 participants).