Overview

RESPTREC™ offers four diploma courses related to chronic disease management. They include:

1. Education
2. Asthma
3. COPD; and
4. Spirometry - a skills-based course.

RESPTREC is a well-established and respected continuing education program which offers courses geared to all disciplines of health care professionals who are involved in chronic disease management.

It is the only program which has been reviewed and endorsed by the Lung Association, Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS), Canadian Respiratory Health Professionals (CRHP), and the Family Physicians Airway Group of Canada (FPAGC). Development of the RESPTREC courses has included representatives from all disciplines. The courses are robust and comprehensive.

RESPTREC firmly believes that RESPTREC learners benefit from the course structure of combined on-line learning and participatory hands-on learning. Experienced faculty facilitate the learning in a comfortable, supportive workshop environment.

RESPTREC is an important resource for building and enhancing competencies, skills and knowledge towards becoming effective educators and valued members of an integrated environment of chronic disease management care.

All courses are independently offered and can be completed in any order based on what is relevant to the learner.

Note: Participants are required to complete the Education course, Asthma course, and COPD course in order to be eligible to write the Certified Respiratory Educator (CRE) examination.

The Education course remains the foundation for learning how to engage patients in self-management. Learners will learn how to apply educational theory to practise.

The Asthma and COPD courses are disease-specific courses based upon the most recent evidence-based published guidelines and references for disease management.

The Spirometry course focuses on the skills and knowledge required to conduct quality spirometry based upon the most recent guidelines.

Course Structure for Education, Asthma and COPD

Each course consists of specific components which must be fulfilled in order to receive a diploma. When registering, please note the importance of the registration deadlines for each course. These deadlines are in place to ensure that you have ample preparation time for the pre-workshop course requirements. You will receive a confirmation email when the course officially begins. The RESPTREC courses begin, at or near the registration deadline, with the first component - the online independent learning located in the online learning centre.

Each course includes the following components:

1. Online Learning Centre
• Learners must login to access the online learning component
• Assignments and quizzes MUST be completed 2 weeks prior to workshop
• Reference will be made to Guidelines, books and manuals (some of which can be ordered through RESPTREC)
• Please allow a minimum of 30 hours of preparation prior to workshop
2. Two-Day Workshop
• Workshops incorporate active participation and hands-on application of relevant disease and education theory.
• Attendance is mandatory
• Workshops are conducted in many locations across Canada
• Workshops include: case scenarios, small group work, individual/group presentations, role playing, videos, Q & As, active learning activities and discussions
• Workshop - Learner Evaluation
• In person skills examination (role playing, case scenarios, demonstration); mastery is required
3. Post-Workshop
• On-line written examination (multiple choice) which must be completed within 3 weeks post-workshop; pass mark is 75%
• On-line assignment which focuses on knowledge and application of course content using a case study which must be completed within 3 weeks post-workshop

All of the above components must be fulfilled in order to receive a diploma. As with other educational institutions, our program requires that each learner complete assignments independently. Plagiarism, the use of material received or purchased from another person or prepared by any person other than the individual claiming to be the author, will result in an incomplete program status. (Adapted from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Policies and Regulations, 2007)

Course Structure for Spirometry

1. Online Learning
• Learners will be given a login and password to access the online learning component
• Prior to attending the one-day workshop learners must complete the following in the online learning center:
• Required readings
• Pre-workshop quiz (no pass mark required)
2. One-day Workshop
• Workshop provides hands-on application and practical training to learn how to conduct quality spirometry
• Attendance is mandatory
• Workshops are conducted in many locations across Canada
3. Post-workshop
• Learners are required to complete a post-workshop quiz (70% pass mark required)
• Learners are required to submit 15 spirometry tests for marking (5 per month for 3 months)

All of the above components must be fulfilled in order to receive a diploma. As with other educational institutions, our program requires that each learner complete assignments independently. Plagiarism, the use of material received or purchased from another person or prepared by any person other than the individual claiming to be the author, will result in an incomplete program status. (Adapted from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Policies and Regulations, 2007)

Registration

Study Credits

For Pharmacists:
The Canadian Council on Continuing Education in Pharmacy has confirmed accreditation as follows:

Education for Chronic Disease Management Course - 27.50 CEUs
COPD Management Course - 21.50 CEUs
Asthma Management Course - 17.50 CEUs