Spirometry Use Among Pediatric Primary Care Physicians

• Published in: Pediatrics (Evanston) 2010-10, Vol.126 (4), p.682-687
• Main Authors: DOMBKOWSKI, Kevin J, HASSAN, Fauziya, WASILEVICH, Elizabeth A, CLARK, Sarah J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asthma; Asthma - diagnosis; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma in children; Attitude of Health Personnel; Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; Child; Childhood asthma; Diagnosis; General aspects; Health participants; Humans; Investigative techniques of respiratory function; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Measurement; Medical sciences; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Pediatricians; Pediatrics; Physicians; Physicians, Family; Practice guidelines (Medicine); Practice Patterns, Physicians; Primary care; Primary health care; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Qualitative research; Respiratory Function Tests - psychology; Safety Management; Spirometry; Spirometry - utilization; Surveys
• ISSN: 0031-4005; 1098-4275
• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2010-0362

This study explores the use of spirometry in primary care settings. A 4-page survey was mailed to a national, random sample of office-based family physicians and pediatricians. Survey items addressed knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding spirometry and standardized clinical vignettes. Data were analyzed by using χ2 tests and multivariate logistic regression. Among the 360 respondents who provided care to children with asthma, 52% used spirometry in clinical practice, whereas 80% used peak flow meters and 10% used no lung function tests. Only 21% routinely used spirometry for all guideline-recommended clinical situations. More family physicians than pediatricians reported using spirometry (75% vs 35%; P