The effect of training on practitioner confidence in their knowledge of COPD

Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects 600,000 patients in the UK (BTS Burden of Lung Disease, 2001). COPD guidelines state that diagnosis and management of COPD should be undertaken by appropriately trained practitioners (BTS Thorax 1997 52; Suppl 5). This audit aimed to show the effect of NRTC COPD training on practitioner confidence in their knowledge of the disease. Questionnaires designed to investigate the influence of training on confidence in COPD knowledge were sent to 167 health care professionals (HCP) prior to attending NRTC COPD courses. 140 HCPs completed the same questionnaire on their final exam day. HCPs rated confidence in their COPD knowledge as 1-5 (very low to very high) for: (i) understanding the causes and pathophysiology of COPD, (ii) taking a comprehensive respiratory history, (iii) obtaining accurate spirometry measurements, (iv) identifying abnormal spirometry patterns and their significance, (v) knowledge of effective treatment strategies for COPD, (vi) understanding of disability/handicap and methods of addressing these issues. To ascertain overall confidence in COPD knowledge, average numbers of HCPs for each confidence level was determined as a percentage of the total number of those audited. 140 (84%) pre-course and 124 (89%) final exam day questionnaires were returned. Pre-course 40 % of HCPs had low/very low confidence in their knowledge, 40% average and 20% high/very high levels of confidence. On the final exam day 1% of HCPs had low confidence in their knowledge, 16% average and 83% high/very high levels of confidence. Average number HCPs as % total audited Confidence Level Pre- course Exam Day 1 — Very Low 13 % 0 % 2 — Low 27 % 1 % 3 — Average 40 % 16 % 4 — High 17 % 55 % 5 — Very high 3 % 28 % The percentage of health care professionals who had high/very high level of confidence increased from 20% to 83% on completion of the course. The results of this audit show that there is a clear shift in confidence in COPD knowledge after attending an NRTC COPD course.