The Current Application Status of Pulmonary Function Testing in West China: A Cross-Sectional Survey and Analysis

Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is a critical diagnostic and management tool for respiratory diseases, yet its implementation in China, particularly within primary hospitals, remains suboptimal. To investigate the current application status of PFTs specifically in western China, a cross-sectional survey based on an online questionnaire was conducted. Physicians from various hospitals completed this questionnaire, designed according to Chinese PFT Guidelines, during 2023-2024, and the analysis focused on the final valid responses. The study ultimately included data from 488 hospitals. A total of 97.13% were public institutions. A total of 38.32% had established independent respiratory departments. The overall PFT availability was 56.76%, 100.00% in tertiary hospitals, and only 25.00% in primary hospitals. A total of 42.24% of the hospitals had a daily workload of less than 5 people. The primary tests included pulmonary ventilation tests (100.00%), pulmonary volume tests (73.65%), and bronchial dilation tests (72.92%). Instrument calibration was performed in 83.03% of the hospitals, and 68.59% of the hospitals considered filter resistance. Over 60.00% of hospitals used estimated values provided by instruments as sources for PFT. A total of 65.70% of hospitals had a limited number of operators. In conclusion, the application of PFT in western China is characterized by a low implementation rate, imbalanced distribution, limited test variety, and insufficient personnel, especially in primary hospitals. It is essential to promote the widespread implementation and standardization of PFTs in western China.