RESPIRATORY

PEAK FLOW MEASUREMENT

Introduction

2 min

Introduce yourself and the group

Provide rationale for the session and relevance to clinical practice

Outline learning objectives:

To demonstrate appropriate explanation to a patient in order to take a peak flow measurement
Understand the relevance of peak flow measurement in clinical practice

Explain structure of session

Total time:

20 min

Number of students:

4-8

Grade of students:

2nd year medical students

Created by:

Dr Charlotte Hayden

Uploaded:

24th September 2019

Last updated:

24th September 2019

Resources needed for this session:

Peak flow devices and fresh mouthpieces (1 per student)

Resources linked to this session:

Asthma

Activity 1: Demonstration

2 min

Demonstrate a peak flow measurement to the students. Explain the key points around explanation to the patient as summarised below:

Explain the procedure to the patient and obtain verbal consent.
Check the gauge on meter moves freely and is set to zero.
Apply a new mouthpiece.
Ask patient to stand (if they are able to do so).
Ask patient to take a full inspiration, the seal the lips tightly around the mouthpiece and blow as hard and as fast as possible.
Emphasise to the patient that it is not the length of expiration that is being measured.
Check that the patient's fingers are not in the way of the gauge.
Offer to demonstrate procedure to the patient and do so if the patient asks or has difficulty using it correctly.
Ask the patient to have another two attempts and set the gauge back to zero before each attempt.
Record the highest of the 3 readings and document it in the patient's notes correctly (L/min).
Dispose of the mouthpiece.

Activity 2: Practical Exercise

10 min

Split the students into pairs. Allow them to practice explaining and performing peak flow measurements.

Activity 3: Interpreting Results

2 min

Introduce the concept of predicted measurement values and calculating percentage predicted values. Discuss the clinical relevance of this to asthma exacerbations.