Public spirometry for primary prevention of COPD.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Smoking cessation is crucial for preventing chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).
• Smokers with existing airway obstruction show higher quit rates in secondary prevention.
• Public spirometry's role in primary prevention needs evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of public spirometry on smoking habits for COPD primary prevention.
• To determine if lung function testing influences motivation to quit smoking in a general population.

Main Methods:

• Spirometry testing offered at a public event ('Long night of sciences').
• Anonymized questionnaires collected data on smoking habits and motivation post-testing.
• Analysis focused on current smokers and their responses to spirometry results.

Main Results:

• 257 individuals tested; 44 were current smokers (17.1%).
• Only two smokers had abnormal spirometry (FEV1/FVC <0.7).
• 14 smokers reported increased quit motivation; 28 reported no change, with younger smokers (median age 28) being more independent of results.

Conclusions:

• Normal spirometry results in an unselected, younger population did not enhance short-term motivation for smoking cessation.
• Public spirometry may not be an effective primary prevention tool for increasing quit motivation in younger adults.
• Further research needed to identify effective strategies for smoking cessation in primary prevention.