Evaluation of COPD screening questions and referrals for spirometry testing by stop smoking advisors
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Author(s)
Joanna Feeney
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Joanna Feeney Specialist Stop Smoking Advisor, County Durham & Darlington Foundation Trust |
Abstract Globally COPD is reported to be the fourth most common cause of death however general awareness of the condition including causes and symptoms is poor. The British Lung Foundation reported in 2007 that 85% of smokers were unaware of the existence of COPD. In January 2011 County Durham & Darlington Stop Smoking Service introduced a simple 5 question screening tool based on NICE guidance for Spirometry Testing with the aim of recommending those identified at Risk of COPD attend a Spirometry Test with their GP.
An evaluation has since been completed to identify if recommendations resulted in attendance at Spirometry and if the intervention raised general awareness of COPD. The results suggest that whilst more people who had received a recommendation for Spirometry Testing attended during a 3 month follow up period when compared to those not recommended it was not statistically significant. However 60% of the sample respondent that their awareness of COPD and the symptoms had increased as a result of attending the Stop Smoking Service.
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Presenter biography Joanna Feeney has been a Specialist Stop Smoking advisor with Co Durham & Darlington for 6 years. She was a Specialist Stop Smoking Advisor with pregnant smokers for 4 years and took the opportunity to work with the Secondary Care team in 2011
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Source of funding: County Durham & Darlington Foundation Trust
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Declaration of interest: None
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