RESEARCH UPDATE

Recent qualitative research has asked whether AI has the potential to improve spirometry services , and how healthcare professionals can be supported to have conversations about childhood overweight with parents

Spirometry services in England post-pandemic and the potential role of AI support software : a qualitative study of challenges and opportunities . 1 Spirometry is a lung function test used routinely to diagnose and monitor chronic lung diseases . 2 The NHS Long Term Plan 3 identified quality and provision of spirometry in primary care as a priority , and its use is now restarting in England in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic .

However , the evidence regarding best practice of this intervention is limited .

The study by Doe and colleagues ( 2023 ) 1 aimed to understand current provision of spirometry services in primary care and priorities for their future delivery , as well as stakeholder views on the potential to use AI in spirometry pathways .

The authors undertook semi-structured interviews with 28 key stakeholders involved in commissioning , service design and the implementation / delivery of spirometry services across primary care staff in England . The interviews took place between April and June 2022 and were conducted online or via telephone .

Following thematic analysis , four main themes were determined : historical challenges in the provision of spirometry services ; inequity in post- pandemic provision of spirometry and challenges to restarting spirometry in primary care ; future delivery closer to patients ’ homes by appropriately trained staff ; and the potential role of AI to support delivery .

The main limitation of the study was that , while the study team recognised that patients are key stakeholders in spirometry services , their perspectives were lacking in this research . However , the authors do plan to include patient perspectives in the next stage of this study .

Overall , this study highlighted that AI may have a role to play in supporting spirometry pathways , particularly if it proves able to improve quality assurance and interpretation of results , reduce workload and be trusted by clinicians .

Reference 1 Doe G et al . Spirometry services in England post-pandemic and the potential role of AI support software : a qualitative study of challenges and opportunities . BJGP 30 October 2023 ; BJGP . 2022.0608 . DOI : 10.3399 / BJGP . 2022.0608

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Lucille Kelsall-Knight is a lecturer in children ’ s nursing at University of Birmingham School of Nursing

Supporting healthcare professionals to address child weight with parents : a qualitative study . 1 Recent years have seen an increasing focus on the role of primary care practitioners in health promotion , including childhood obesity . 2 , 3 However , there is evidence that practitioners have concerns about discussing a child ’ s weight with their parents . 4

Pallan and colleagues ( 2023 ) 1 set out to explore healthcare practitioners ' experiences of these conversations in primary care and community settings within socio-economically disadvantaged and ethnically diverse populations , looking at facilitators and barriers .

Between November 2019 and March 2020 , they conducted interviews with GPs ( 13 ) and general practice nurses ( 7 ), and focus groups with school nurses ( 20 ). All worked in local authority areas in the West and East Midlands regions of England . Interviews were face to face or by telephone , and focus groups were face to face .

Following thematic analysis , three themes emerged regarding facilitators of conversations about a child ’ s weight with parents : structural changes , such as dedicated appointments and joined-up working ; HCPs ' approaches to these conversations ; and the relevant skills and knowledge of HCPs . A further three themes emerged in relation to barriers : structural and organisational , such as limited time and capacity ; HCP related , such as a lack of confidence ; and family related , including ethnic and cultural factors .

The main limitations of the study were that HCPs were recruited via advertising and so were likely to have an interest in childhood overweight , and that the school nurse participants all came from a single healthcare organisation , potentially limiting generalisability .

The study identified that a range of factors influence HCPs ' ability to address children ’ s excess weight with parents in primary care and community settings . The authors concluded that it is important to support HCPs with structural changes , and core training to develop the appropriate knowledge and skills .

Reference 1 Pallan , M . Mason , F . Parretti , H . Adab , P . Abbott , S . Jolly , K . Supporting healthcare professionals to address child weight with parents : a qualitative study . BJGP 11 October 2023 ; BJGP . 2023.0238 . DOI : 10.3399 / BJGP . 2023.0238

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