Observational studyBMC family practice2013
General practice variation in spirometry testing among patients receiving first-time prescriptions for medication targeting obstructive lung disease in Denmark: a population-based observational study.
Observational study in BMC family practice, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Diagnostic accuracy of a pocket screening spirometer in diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in general practice: a cross sectional validation study using tertiary care as a reference.BMC family practice · 2016Trial
- The PROTECCT-M study: a cohort study investigating associations between novel specific biomarkers, patient-related, healthcare system markers and the trajectory of COPD patients treated in primary care.BMC pulmonary medicine · 2014Trial
- Practice Variation in Management of Childhood Asthma Is Associated with Outcome Differences.The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practiceTrial
- Between-practice variation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis guideline compliance: an observational study.BJGP open · 2026Article
- Associations between degrees of task delegation and adherence to COPD guidelines on spirometry testing in general practice - a national cross-sectional study.BMC health services research · 2019Article
- Article
- Are formalised implementation activities associated with aspects of quality of care in general practice? A cross-sectional study.BJGP open · 2017Article
- Work motivation, task delegation and job satisfaction of general practice staff: a cross-sectional study.Family practice · 2017Article
- Practice variation in surgical procedures and IUD-insertions among general practitioners in Norway - a longitudinal study.BMC family practice · 2017Article
- General practice variation when initiating long-term prescribing of proton pump inhibitors: a nationwide cohort study.BMC family practice · 2016Article
- Spirometry in Greenland: a cross-sectional study on patients treated with medication targeting obstructive pulmonary disease.International journal of circumpolar health · 2016Observational
- Relational coordination and organisational social capital association with characteristics of general practice.International journal of family medicine · 2014Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSpirometry testing is essential to confirm an obstructive lung disease, but studies have reported that a large proportion of patients diagnosed with COPD or asthma have no history of spirometry testing. Also, it has been shown that many patients are prescribed medication for obstructive lung disease without a relevant diagnosis or spirometry test registered. General practice characteristics have been reported to influence diagnosis and management of several chronic diseases. However, these findings are inconsistent, and it is uncertain whether practice characteristics influence spirometry testing among patients receiving medication for obstructive lung disease. The aim of this study was therefore to examine if practice characteristics are associated with spirometry testing among patients receiving first-time prescriptions for medication targeting obstructive lung disease.
methodsA national register-based cohort study was performed. All patients over 18 years receiving first-time prescriptions for medication targeting obstructive lung disease in 2008 were identified and detailed patient-specific data on sociodemographic status and spirometry tests were extracted. Information on practice characteristics like number of doctors, number of patients per doctor, training practice status, as well as age and gender of the general practitioners was linked to each medication user.
resultsPartnership practices had a higher odds ratio (OR) of performing spirometry compared with single-handed practices (OR 1.24, CI 1.09-1.40). We found a significant association between increasing general practitioner age and decreasing spirometry testing. This tendency was most pronounced among partnership practices, where doctors over 65 years had the lowest odds of spirometry testing (OR 0.25, CI 0.10-0.61). Training practice status was significantly associated with spirometry testing among single-handed practices (OR 1.40, CI 1.10-1.79).
conclusionSome of the variation in spirometry testing among patients receiving first-time prescriptions for medication targeting obstructive lung disease was associated with practice characteristics. This variation in performance may indicate a potential for quality improvement.
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