Building Capacity for Respiratory Health in the community: A practical spirometry training program for the polyclinic setting.

Spirometry is not readily available in the primary care setting. Thus, patients with respiratory conditions or symptoms would be referred to a tertiary hospital for spirometry testing. The purpose of this project was to create a comprehensive programme to equip and train SHP nurses with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform spirometry independently in their polyclinic setting. The eventual goal was to improve patient access to timely spirometry testing and positively affects the population through increased healthcare capacity and improved public health outcomes. SHP nurses underwent an intensive 10-session training programme that encompassed both theoretical and practical components. Through these, the nurses gained a thorough understanding of spirometry principles, techniques, and quality control measures. A competency assessment was conducted to ensure the nurses' proficiency. Thereafter, SHP spirometry appointments were made available. Over the next three months, a CGH clinical physiologist supervised the trained nurses during these appointments, after which they were able to independently perform spirometry. SHP now offers spirometry testing, improving patient care and facilitating timely diagnosis and management of respiratory conditions. The spirometry training programme for SHP nurses in the polyclinic setting has a positive impact on patients/caregivers by improving access and cost to a key respiratory test, benefits the healthcare workforce by expanding nurses' scope of practice and enhancing collaboration, and positively affects the population through increased healthcare capacity and improved public health outcomes.