Diagnosing Asthma – Clinical Tests Revisited

Asthma Diagnosis is difficult. Respiratory history and clinical assessment is crucial to make the initial diagnosis, which should then be confirmed by objective tests and diagnostics.

Ms Samantha Prigmore explores in her presentation the various diagnostic tests available to support making the correct asthma diagnosis, including lung function parameters via peak flow and spirometry. She also explores other useful diagnostic tools such as FeNO, provocation tests, plethysmography and impulse oscillometry.

Ms Prigmore shares her views on the advantages and disadvantages of each test and provides her perspective as to how best to utilise each test in daily clinical practice when confirming an asthma diagnosis.

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• Samantha Prigmore

  Independent Respiratory Nurse Consultant

  Read biography
  Samantha Prigmore

  Independent Respiratory Nurse Consultant

  Role and Location 

  Ms Prigmore is an independent Respiratory Nurse Consultant.

  Education

  Ms Prigmore qualified as a registered general nurse in 1987 at Oxford, before going on to attain an MSc degree in cardio respiratory nursing from Imperial College London in 2004.

  Research Interests

  Ms Prigmore has specific clinical interests in COPD, asthma non-invasive ventilation and caring for respiratory patients with complex needs in the community.

  Memberships

  Ms Prigmore is a member of the British Thoracic Society representing nursing on several committees. She is actively involved in the Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists and PCRS-UK. She has previously been a trustee for the British Lung Foundation.