[Spirometry in general practice in Northern Norway].

BACKGROUND: The Ministry of Health and Care Services developed an action plan for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) in 2006. General practitioners (GPs) have a central role in this plan and use of spirometry for measurement of lung function is important. We wished to study general practitioners' use of spirometry in the three northern counties of Norway.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A questionnaire was sent by post to all the GP offices in the region. Those who did not return the questionnaire were contacted by telephone and the researcher filled in the form based on the conversation. The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration provided information about the doctors' use of fee categories.

RESULTS: We found that 91 % of the GP offices had a spirometer. Support staff did the spirometric measurements in 66 % of the offices and physicians in the rest. Personnel using spirometry had been trained during the last two years in 86 % of the centres.

INTERPRETATION: Spirometry is much used in GP offices and support personnel usually do these measurements. Measures to improve the quality of spirometry should be directed towards both doctors and support staff.