The effect of short-term training combined with spirometer on the COPD diagnosis in the primary hospitals

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of short-term training on improving physician's knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the effect of short-term training combined with spirometer on diagnostic ratio of COPD in the primary hospitals. Methods Sixe primary hospitals without spirometer were sampled and randomly divided into two groups: intervention (n=3) and control (n=3) groups. Physicians were provided with short-term training about COPD and hospitals were provided with spirometer freely in intervention group, but neither in control group. Physicians in intervention group were required to answer questionnaires about COPD before and after training, respectively; one point per each question and full score was 10 points. Individual scoring and pass rate were compared. In a same period of 3 months before and after intervention, clinical doubtful diagnostic ratio and confirmative ratio of COPD in two groups were compared. Results ⑴ Before training, there were only 43.0% physicians who got more than 6 points, and the median was 5 points. After training, there were 95.2% physicians who got more than 6 points, and the median was 9 points. The difference of individual scoring, and pass rate between before and after training was statistically significant(U=734.500, P=0.000; χ2=52.764, P=0.000). ⑵ Before intervention, clinical doubtful diagnostic ratio of COPD was 0.69% in control group and 0.84% in intervention group(χ2=0.428, P=0.513), both confirmative ratio were 0%; There was no significant difference between them. After intervention, doubtful diagnostic ratio of COPD was 0.67%, confirmative ratio of COPD was 0% in control group, and doubtful diagnostic ratio of COPD was 14.40% and confirmative ratio of COPD was 2.87% in intervention group; there were significant differences between them(χ2=404.017, P=0.000; χ2=86.954, P=0.000). Conclusions ⑴ Short-term training combined with spirometer could effectively improve the diagnostic level of COPD in the primary hospitals. ⑵ Short-term training could effectively improve the physician's understanding of COPD. Key words: Inservice training; Respiratory function tests/IS; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive/DI; Hospitals, general