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Spirometry utilization in Ontario: practice patterns and policy implications

B Chan1, G Anderson, R E Dales

  • 1Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Ontario, North York, Ont. ben@ices.on.ca

CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De L'Association Medicale Canadienne
|January 15, 1997
PubMed
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Spirometry use in Ontario surged significantly, driven by more physicians performing the tests and a shift to more complex procedures. Wide regional disparities in utilization highlight the need for clearer guidelines and further investigation into access and appropriateness.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Health Services Research
  • Healthcare Policy

Background:

  • Spirometry, a key pulmonary function test, is crucial for diagnosing and managing respiratory diseases.
  • Understanding trends in its utilization and regional variations is essential for effective healthcare planning and resource allocation in Ontario.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the growth and regional differences in spirometry (flow studies) utilization across Ontario.
  • To identify factors contributing to expenditure increases and variations in spirometry use.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of fee-for-service billing data from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for spirometry.
  • Data covered fiscal years 1989-90 to 1994-95, focusing on physicians' office practices.
  • Key metrics included study volume, expenditures, physician demographics, per capita utilization by age, and regional variations.

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Main Results:

  • Total expenditure on spirometry in Ontario reached $14.13 million in 1994-95, a 36.9% increase from 1989-90, outpacing overall OHIP expenditure growth.
  • Growth was primarily driven by an increasing number of physicians performing spirometry and a shift towards higher-fee flow-volume loops over simple spirograms.
  • Significant regional variations in spirometry utilization were observed, with a small group of general practitioners and family physicians contributing to these disparities.

Conclusions:

  • Rapid growth in spirometry use may be linked to the availability of inexpensive devices and increased awareness of diagnostic guidelines.
  • Wide regional variations suggest potential issues with guideline implementation, unclear usage frequency recommendations, or unequal access/inappropriate use.
  • There is a need for evidence-based guidelines, implementation strategies, and further research into access in low-use areas and appropriateness in high-use areas.