Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) in Primary Care Settings

Get practical guidance on primary care management of CRD

On this course, you’ll get a world-class introduction in how to diagnose and manage respiratory disease in low- and middle-income primary care settings.

Explore how to treat chronic respiratory disease

Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) place a huge burden on healthcare services worldwide, as recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO).

On the course, you’ll explore the physical, psychological, and social impact of chronic respiratory diseases on the individual, their family, and the wider community.

Improve your diagnostic skills

You’ll demonstrate an improved ability as a healthcare professional to diagnose and manage asthma, COPD, and other chronic respiratory diseases in children and adults.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to assess how to adapt your advice to the local context – taking into account your access to staff, care, and treatment in terms of the availability of local resources.

Learn to treat asthma and COPD alongside experts

The course is led by RESPIRE at the University of Edinburgh, and the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG). RESPIRE is led by global experts in respiratory disease, while IPCRG is a world network of primary care respiratory clinicians that works to improve respiratory health and CRD best practice.

Under their guidance, you’ll come away with increased confidence in your diagnostic skills and your ability to manage the healthcare resources available to you.

This course is designed for those working within or those with an interest in diagnosis and management of respiratory care/primary care in resource-constrained countries.

The course is aimed at all interested primary healthcare professionals in low- and middle-income countries. In particular, frontline healthcare workers in primary care and (where there may not be a primary care infrastructure) community healthcare workers (CHW).

It is applicable to staff (including doctors, nurses, and community healthcare workers) delivering primary healthcare in these countries, plus policy-makers, managers, community leaders, and individuals concerned about chronic respiratory disease.

• Why is Respiratory Health Important?
• Welcome to the course
• The big picture
• Impact, treatment and management
• Asthma
• Case study part 1: Wheezy child
• Asthma management
• What is peak flow and why is it important?
• Case study part 2: Condition review
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Case study: Primary care practice
• Introduction to COPD
• Diagnosis of COPD
• Assessment and management of COPD in primary care
• Differential diagnosis
• Case study: Woman with a respiratory problem
• Thinking about your own practice
• Spirituality and chronic respiratory disease
• Improving care in your practice
• Introduction
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• Practical primary care advice
• Implementing change
• Test your knowledge
• Summary