A new project is underway in Lewisham to develop the educational resources needed to train healthcare professionals on how to use novel AI-powered results to diagnose respiratory illnesses.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-term condition of the lungs where the flow of air to the lungs is obstructed. Traditional diagnosis relies on spirometry, a test requiring patients to forcefully exhale into a machine. However, spirometry can be challenging for some patients and requires trained personnel, leading to delays in diagnosis. One in eight respondents to an Asthma + Lung UK survey reported waiting more than 10 years for a diagnosis.
TidalSense, a medical technology company, has developed N-Tidal, a handheld device that will offer a patient-friendly alternative diagnostic approach that uses AI to improve the speed and accessibility of COPD diagnosis. Patients simply breathe normally into a mouthpiece for 75 seconds, and the device will analyse the pattern of CO2 in their breath using AI to determine the likelihood of them having COPD.
While NHS commissioners are already planning to use N-Tidal in the NHS, TidalSense says it is committed to giving healthcare professionals the skills and confidence to use this AI-powered technology.
According to NHS Digital, AI holds immense potential to revolutionise healthcare, however successfully integrating it hinges on building confidence and competence among healthcare professionals. In its report, NHS Digital explains that educating healthcare workers to develop, implement, and use AI effectively and safely requires specialised product-specific training to enable healthcare workers to use AI technologies within their specific fields.
