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Pharmacists performing quality spirometry testing: an evidence based review

  • Review Article
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International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Background

The scope of pharmacist services for patients with pulmonary disease has primarily focused on drug related outcomes; however pharmacists have the ability to broaden the scope of clinical services by performing diagnostic testing including quality spirometry testing. Studies have demonstrated that pharmacists can perform quality spirometry testing based upon international guidelines.

Aim of the review

The primary aim of this review was to assess the published evidence of pharmacists performing quality spirometry testing based upon American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) guidelines. In order to accomplish this, the description of evidence and type of outcome from these services were reviewed.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using five databases [PubMed (1946–January 2015), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 to January 2015), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews] with search terms including pharmacy, spirometry, pulmonary function, asthma or COPD was conducted. Searches were limited to publications in English and reported in humans. In addition, Uniform Resource Locators and Google Scholar searches were implemented to include any additional supplemental information.

Results

Eight studies (six prospective multi-center trials, two retrospective single center studies) were included. Pharmacists in all studies received specialized training in performing spirometry testing. Of the eight studies meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria, 8 (100 %) demonstrated acceptable repeatability of spirometry testing based upon standards set by the ATS/ERS guidelines. Acceptable repeatability of seven studies ranged from 70 to 99 % consistent with published data.

Conclusion

Available evidence suggests that quality spirometry testing can be performed by pharmacists. More prospective studies are needed to add to the current evidence of quality spirometry testing performed by pharmacists and to measure health outcomes of the pulmonary patient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacy Administration, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, 600 South 43rd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4495, USA

    Michael J. Cawley

  2. Family Medicine Residency Program, Crozer-Keystone Center for Family Health, Springfield, PA, USA

    William J. Warning

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  1. Michael J. Cawley
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Correspondence to Michael J. Cawley.

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The authors did not receive funding support for this project.

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Cawley, M.J., Warning, W.J. Pharmacists performing quality spirometry testing: an evidence based review. Int J Clin Pharm 37, 726–733 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-015-0160-x

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