Volume 16 Issue 5 October 2007Original Research
National survey on the roles and training of primary care respiratory nurses in the UK in 2006: are we making progress?
Pages 284-290
*Jane Uptona, Hazel Madoc-Suttonb, Aziz Sheikhc, Timothy L Frankd, Samantha Walkere, Monica Fletcherf
a
Research Project Manager, Education for Health, 10 Church Street, Warwick, CV34 4AB, UK
b
Research Assistant, Education for Health, Warwick, UK
c
Professor of Primary Care Research and Development, Allergy and Respiratory Research Group, Division of Community Health Sciences: GP Section, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
d
Director, General Practice Research Unit, North West Lung Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK
e
Director of Education, Research and Development, Education for Health, Warwick, UK
f
Chief Executive, Education for Health, 10 Church Street, Warwick, CV34 4AB, UK
Received 6 August 2007 • Accepted 3 September 2007 • Online 12 October 2007
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe nurse-led UK general practice asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care, and the training undertaken to support it. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 500 randomly-selected UK asthma and COPD practice nurses. RESULTS: 382 nurses (76%) completed the practice characteristics section, 389 (78%) described their asthma roles and training, and 368 (74%) described their COPD roles and training. 96 practices (25%; 95%CI 21-29%) ran designated asthma clinics, 87 (23%; 95%CI 19- 27%) ran designated COPD clinics, and 170 (45%; 95%CI 40-49%) did not run designated respiratory clinics. Of the 255 nurses with an advanced asthma role, 51 (20%; 95%CI 15-25%) did not have accredited asthma training. Of the 215 nurses with an advanced COPD role, 111 (52%; 95%CI 45-58%) did not have accredited COPD training. CONCLUSION: Patients are increasingly being seen outside of designated asthma or COPD clinics, often by nurses with an advanced role. It is important that nurses have the training to fulfil this role.
Keywords
Asthma, COPD, general practice, practice nurses, education
* Corresponding author. Jane Upton Tel: +44 (0)1926 838976 Fax: +44 (0)1926 493224 Email: j.upton@educationforhealth.org.uk | |
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