Barriers to spirometry in Australian general practice: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• General Practice Research

Background:

• Investigates the underutilisation of spirometry in Australian general practice.
• Identifies key barriers hindering correct spirometry use in primary care settings.

Approach:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched six major databases for relevant studies on spirometry in primary care.

Key Points:

• Clinician barriers include perceived limited clinical utility, low confidence, and poor interpretation skills.
• Practice barriers involve time, cost, staff training, availability, and equipment calibration.
• Patient reluctance to attend spirometry appointments is also a significant barrier.

Conclusions:

• Perceived low clinical utility and patient reluctance must be addressed to improve spirometry use.
• Cost, confidence, and competence issues can be mitigated through updated reimbursement policies and continuous training programs.