An audit of spirometry at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria (2002-2009)

Abstract

Background: Spirometry is a noninvasive and cost-effective physiologic test that greatly complements other investigative procedures in evaluation of respiratory conditions. This study was aimed at auditing the spirometry performed at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) Ilorin, Nigeria, and highlighting some of the challenges associated with the procedure. Methods: We reviewed and analyzed the record of spirometry performed at the cardiopulmonary unit of the hospital from June 2002 to December 2009. Results: A total of 119 patients had spirometry tests from 2002 to 2009 and their age ranged from 15 to 85 years with a mean of 47.6 \ub1 14.8 years. There were 69 (58%) males and the male:female ratio was 1.4:1. More than half (65%) of the tests were in patients <50 years old. The rate of spirometry performed annually increased from 12 (10.1%) in 2002 to 31 (26.1%) in year 2009. Evaluation of bronchial asthma was the most common indication for spirometry (43 patients; 36.1%). Majority of the requests (84 patients; 70.6%) were from adult respiratory physicians. The identified challenges were lack of awareness of the range of diseases that could be investigated by spirometry, lack of skills in interpreting the results, lack of time and delays in replacing exhausted consumables and faulty components of spirometer. Conclusion: Gradually, the trend of spirometry request is increasing in UITH; however, a wider acceptability could be achieved for this test by raising the level of awareness and improving the skills of all doctors on the usefulness and interpretation of spirometry.Arri\ue8re-plan: Spirom\ue9trie est un test physiologique invasive et rentable qui compl\ue8te consid\ue9rablement les autres proc\ue9dures d\u2019enqu\ueate dans l\u2019\ue9valuation des conditions respiratoires. Cette \ue9tude visait \ue0 la spirom\ue9trie effectu\ue9e \ue0 l\u2019Universit\ue9 de l\u2019h\uf4pital d\u2019enseignement Ilorin (UITH) Ilorin, Nigeria, l\u2019audit et de mettre en \ue9vidence certains des d\ue9fis li\ue9s \ue0 la proc\ue9dure. M\ue9thodes: Nous a examin\ue9 et analys\ue9 l\u2019enregistrement de spirom\ue9trie effectu\ue9e \ue0 l\u2019unit\ue9 de l\u2019h\uf4pital de juin 2002 \ue0 d\ue9cembre 2009 de cardio-pulmonaires. R\ue9sultats: Un total de 119 patients avait spirom\ue9trie tests depuis 2002 pour 2009 et leur \ue2ge variait de 15 \ue0 85 ans avec une moyenne de 47.6 \ub1 14,8 ans. Il y avait des hommes (58%) 69 et le ratio hommes: femmes \ue9tait 1.4:1. Plus de la moiti\ue9 (65%) des tests \ue9taient chez les patients < \ue2g\ue9 de 50 ans. Le taux de spirom\ue9trie effectu\ue9e annuellement une augmentation de 12 (10,1%) en 2002 \ue0 31 (26,1%) dans l\u2019ann\ue9e 2009. \uc9valuation de l\u2019asthme bronchique indiquait la plus commune pour la spirom\ue9trie (43 patients; 36,1%). La majorit\ue9 des demandes (84 patients; 70,6%) \ue9taient des m\ue9decins respiratoires adultes. Les d\ue9fis identifi\ue9s \ue9taient le manque de connaissance de la plage de maladies qui pourraient \ueatre \ue9tudi\ue9s par la spirom\ue9trie, manque de comp\ue9tences dans l\u2019interpr\ue9tation des r\ue9sultats, le manque de temps et de retards dans le remplacement des consommables \ue9puis\ue9s et composants d\ue9fectueuses de Spirom\ue8tre. Conclusion: Progressivement, la tendance de la demande de la spirom\ue9trie augmente dans UITH; toutefois, une plus large acceptabilit\ue9 pourrait \ueatre obtenue pour ce test par \ue9lever le niveau de sensibilisation et d\u2019am\ue9lioration des comp\ue9tences de tous les m\ue9decins sur l\u2019utilit\ue9 et l\u2019interpr\ue9tation de la spirom\ue9trie