Danish medical journal
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Danish medical journal · Feb 2015
Spirometry utilisation among Danish adults initiating medication targeting obstructive lung disease.
This PhD thesis was written during my employment at the Research Unit of General Practice in Odense, University of Southern Denmark. It comprises an overview and three papers, all published or submitted for publication in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. ⋯ This study has shown a lack of spirometry testing among patients initiating medication targeting obstructive lung disease. This underuse of spirometry testing indicates a quality gap and increased focus of spirometry utilization is needed when patients initiate medication targeting obstructive lung disease. The variation reported in spirometry testing across patient and practice characteristics was most predominant with regard to increasing age among patients and doctors, the remaining variables only account for small variations. However identification of these variations can help guide general practitioners to identify patients at increased risk of not having spirometry performed and help target future interventions for primary care.