Engineering Diagnoses: A Case Study of the Global Lung Function Initiative

Spirometers are used to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic respiratory conditions like asthma, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). What constitutes a “normal” respiratory system typically depends upon a particular patient’s age, height, gender, and race or ethnicity. But whether or not race is a reliable predictor of lung function has in recent years become the subject of a wide-ranging and animated debate among researchers, medical professionals, and public health advocates. In this case study, students will become active participants in this debate by exploring the origins and development of spirometric software. Moving from NHANES III to GLI 2012 and finally, GLI Global, students will examine the social construction of clinical algorithms and the diagnostic and health implications of the differences between them.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, students will be able to:

• Explain how the clinical algorithms in modern spirometers work
• Analyze the diagnostic implications of three different algorithms (NHANES III, GLI 2012, and GLI Global) and their reference data
• Identify the differences between the genetic and social determinants of respiratory health
• Evaluate the potential impact of race-neutral pulmonary function testing on a range of different stakeholders

Key Themes

• Instrumentation Design
• Algorithm Design
• Risk Assessment
• Stakeholder Identification

Where Might You Use This Resource?

• A Biomedical Engineering course on instrumentation design
• A Computer Science course on the applications of programming
• A Human-Centered Design course

What You Get

Facilitated Learning Package

For instructors teaching the material in an 80 minute session.

• Instructor Orientation Guide
• Lesson Plan for 80-minute class session
• Student Pre-work
• Slide Deck with Facilitation Notes and Supplemental Annotations
• Student Handouts and Worksheet
• Assessment Questions
• Independent Learning Version of Case Text (for instructor preparation)
• Supplemental Reading for Instructors
• References

Independent Learning Package

For learners to complete asynchronously.

• Instructor Orientation Guide
• Independent Learning Document with embedded activities and questions
• Assessment Questions
• Supplemental Reading for Instructors
• References