Determining factors affecting the acceptability of spirometry: A survey study in a tertiary chest diseases center

Unlike other laboratory tests, spirometry requires the participant’s full compliance with the maneuvers in the test for an acceptable test result. In this study, we aimed to determine the suitability of spirometric tests regarding acceptability and the factors associated with acceptability.

Before the test, our 15-scale questionnaire, prepared by us in the respiratory function laboratory, was applied to the participants who requested spirometric examination in our hospital. Afterwards, patients were subjected to spirometric analysis. Spirogram results of the participants were evaluated by four clinicians who were experts in the field based on the acceptability criteria in the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Spirometry Standardization Guidelines. Participants were divided into two groups as those who met the acceptability criteria and those who did not. Both groups were compared regarding demographic data, comorbidities, education levels, and questions in the questionnaire.

The acceptability spirometry rate was 71.2%. The most common error among those who could not perform an acceptable test was the inability to complete the expiratory time to the time that would create a plateau, with 37.3%. Education level and acceptability of spirometry were not related (p= 0.228). Asthma was statistically significantly higher in the group that performed acceptable spirometry (p= 0.049). Acceptable spirometry rate was statistically significantly higher in the participants who had previously performed spirometric tests compared to the other group (p< 0.001). The test success of the participants who did not have success anxiety about the test was significantly higher than the other group (p= 0.033).

Reduction of participants’ anxiety and repetitive testing increases test acceptability. For this reason, in our clinical practice, we recommend that people who want a spirometry test relieve their anxiety about the test and repeat the test in unacceptable tests.