Course information

This course is aimed at anyone undertaking spirometry who wishes both perform and undertake basic interpretation of spirometry. It can serve as revision for those who have been practising for many years.
This course will prepare delegates for ARTP assessment which has been reviewed by the ARTP and is available to view https://www.artp.org.uk/Spirometry-Certification. The ARTP are the ONLY assessors of competence and training providers are working towards this assessment.
Our clinical expert who created and designed the e-learning (Chris Loveridge) has years of experience in working clinically and in training and education. She was part of the working party who created ‘A guide to quality assured spirometry in primary care’ (2013) and created the 10 steps to interpretation. For our courses she has rewritten these as the ‘Seven Steps to standardised spirometry’ (2020) and this forms the basis of our learning to ensure all spirometry traces performed are ‘fit for purpose.’
Our courses have PP video presentations for each session, with interactive knowledge checks and guided learning activities which offer further learning. Some of these activities will be requirements for the ARTP portfolio if this is the route that learners choose. The final assessment after 10 sessions will be marked and feedback given.

Course content

By the end of this course delegates will understand how to:

• Undertake spirometry safely and effectively in their place of work
• Recognise the importance of quality assurance in relation to spirometry equipment and how these impact on potential interpretation
• Identify indications and contraindications to spirometry testing that ensure patient safety
• Report quality assured spirometry in a safe and confident manner
• Consider a systematic approach to spirometry reporting with basic interpretation resulting in patterns of airflow and possible clinical suggestions

Online course details

Please note: once you have completed the registration form, your details will be passed to the training provider who will contact you in due course with details on how to access the online learning.

Course length = 15 hours

Access =  2 months to complete

Presented in 10 defined sessions of approximately 90 minutes learning (per session) and activities this course provides a practical approach to spirometry testing:
• Overview of spirometry
• Equipment preparation
• Preparing the patient
• Performing the test
• Numerical interpretation
• Learning revisited
• Interpreting obstruction
• Introducing Obstruction with reversibility
• Introducing a restrictive picture
• Introducing a combined picture
• Final assessment