ISSN 2756-3332
African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2756-3332 Vol. 12 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Enhancing respiratory physiology education for primary care in Tanzania
Yohana Mashalla1*, Amos Massele1, Marina Njelekela2 and Simon Mamuya2
1School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
2Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania.
Accepted 15 November, 2023
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.
Key words: Respiratory care, respiratory care practitioners, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.