Respiratory physiology training in Tanzania: need to focus on primary respiratory care

Abstract

Effective management of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by General Practitioners is likely to be compromised by respiratory physiology training that has main focus on acute respiratory diseases with high mortality and little focus on empowering medical and nursing students and practitioners on respiratory care. Results of this study indicate that lack of responsiveness of respiratory physiology courses for undergraduate and postgraduate and lack of structured in-service training programmes on respiratory care and inadequate training facilities for lung function assessment are key challenges to the medical schools. It is concluded that concerted effort is required through global partnership to enhance training and re-training of general practitioners and nurses on primary respiratory care and making accessible relevant resources needed for building competencies in lung function assessment and interpretation of results.