The International Primary Care Respiratory Group was founded in June 2000 and represents national groups of Primary Care Physicians who have a particular interest in respiratory medicine.

Currently the IPCRG has 16 full voting member countries, and 19 associate member countries as well as seven associate corporate members.

The National Asthma Council is the member organisation representing Australia.

About the IPCRG

The IPCRG acts as an international umbrella organisation for national primary care respiratory interest groups. The organisation's aim is to use its international network to undertake research in community settings; to lead the production and dissemination of evidence-based guidelines appropriate for primary care professionals; and to develop education programmes to support that dissemination and changes in practice.

The IPCRG website provides practical resources for respiratory professionals working in community settings across the world, and for patients who want to know more about medical management of respiratory conditions.

IPCRG web site
(www.theipcrg.org)

The IPCRG holds a bi-annual World Conference. Previous conferences include Amsterdam in 2002, hosted by the Dutch General Practitioners Advisory Group on Asthma and COPD; Melbourne, Australia in 2004, hosted by the National Asthma Council Australia; Oslo, Norway, in 2006, hosted by Lunger i Praksi; and Seville, Spain in 2008, hosted by Grupo de respiratorio de Atención Primaria.

The 5th IPCRG World Conference: 2010 Making every breath count 

The 5th IPCRG World Conference was held June 2-5, 2010 in Toronto, Canada. The conference was for all primary care health professionals with an interest in respiratory health.

The National Asthma Council Australia's successful education program for health professionals was again recognised at the Conference. Ms Judi Wicking, asthma educator and NAC project manager, presented an abstract titled 'Up-skilling general practice nurses to improve asthma management in primary care', explaining the NAC's pilot Asthma and Respiratory Management Seminar for Practice Nurses.

The abstract was selected for publication in the June 2010 issue of the Primary Care Respiratory Journal.

Reference:
Wicking J, Gordon M, Brophy S, Cleveland R, Bell M, Whorlow K. Up-skilling general practice nurses to improve asthma management in primary care. Prim Care Respir J 2010; 19(2): A17. http://www.thepcrj.org/journ/view_article.php?article_id=702

Website: http://www.ipcrg-toronto2010.org

Previous IPCRG Conferences

The 4th IPCRG World Conference: Building bridges among diversity

The 4th IPCRG World Conference was held May 28-31, 2008 in Seville, Spain.

The National Asthma Council Australia's A-Team^® asthma education program was internationally recognised for its innovative format and successful outcomes at the IPCRG conference. Ms Judi Wicking, well-known asthma educator and A-Team project officer, presented an abstract titled ‘The A-Team^®: A national asthma education program, the Australian way' to a captivated audience of health professionals from around the world. 

The abstract was selected for publication in the June 2008 issue of the Primary Care Respiratory Journal.

Reference:
Wicking J, Brophy S, Cleveland R, Fodero L, Scuteri J, Whorlow K. The A-Team^®: A national asthma education program, the Australian way. Prim Care Respir J 2008; 17(2): 119. http://www.thepcrj.org/journ/view_article.php?article_id=568

Website: http://ipcrg-seville2008.unicongress.com/

The 3rd IPCRG World Conference: Respiratory Disease in Primary Care – Quality of care

Australia was well represented with a contingent of health professionals who attended including Assoc. Professor Ron Tomlins, immediate past-Chairman of the National Asthma Council Australia and Professor Justin Beilby, Chairman of the Asthma Management Handbook Guidelines Committee. NAC project manager, Kathy Hope, who also represented Australia at the Conference, reported on proceedings and prepared a special ‘highlights’ review. 

 IPCRG Olso Report 2006 1013.73 Kb

Website: theipcrg.org/oslo2006  (www.theipcrg.org/oslo2006/)

The 2nd IPCRG World Conference: The Way Forward

Hosted by the National Asthma Council Australia, the 2004 conference provided a lively exchange of ideas and experience from around the world and from a wide range of areas within respiratory care.

Website: IPCRG 2004 Melbourne Conference website
(http://www.ipcrg-melbourne.org/)

Content Updated 2 September, 2010