Assessing Utilization of Spirometry Among Pediatric Primary Care Providers

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Quality Improvement Science

Background:

• Childhood asthma affects 6.5% of US children, making it a significant public health concern.
• Spirometry is the established gold standard for diagnosing and managing pediatric asthma.
• Despite its importance, spirometry is underutilized in primary care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current use of spirometry by pediatric primary care providers.
• To identify perceived barriers hindering spirometry utilization in pediatric asthma care.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement project guided by the Knowledge-to-Action framework.
• A comprehensive literature review on spirometry in pediatric primary care.
• A survey administered to primary care providers to assess spirometry practices and barriers.

Main Results:

• Most surveyed providers (n=37) regularly diagnose and manage asthma but not spirometry.
• Providers reported low regular spirometry use (mean=2.22/5).
• Key barriers identified were spirometry availability, time constraints, and inadequate training.

Conclusions:

• Nurse practitioners (NPs) can champion spirometry integration into primary care.
• This study offers practical strategies for implementing spirometry in pediatric primary care.
• Addressing identified barriers is crucial for improving spirometry use and enhancing pediatric asthma management.