10 August 2022
How to complete the ARTP Pulse Oximetry & Polygraphy Portfolio
Portfolio Contents Overview
- All candidates that register for the ARTP Sleep Certificate in Pulse Oximetry & Polygraphy are required to complete a portfolio of evidence for assessment purposes.
- Candidates must submit only the requested portfolio requirements as detailed below.
- All pages in your portfolio must be numbered and recorded on the contents page so they can be easily located by the assessor. All the work must be clearly divided into sections.
- All work submitted must be your own
Your portfolio must consist of the following sections:
SECTION A
1) A contents page
2) Background information about your workplace (no more than 750 words) to include:
- Method of referral.
- Location of where the tests are performed (community, hospital, home), and the type of staff performing and reporting upon the tests e.g Doctor, Nurse, Physiologist, other.
- Type of patient referred e.g. Sleep disordered breathing? Nocturnal hypoventilation, Adult, Paediatric etc.
- Number and type of studies performed on a monthly basis e.g. Oximetry, polygraphy
SECTION B
3) Test criteria to include:
- Your local pulse oximetry and/or polygraphy protocol (Standard Operating Procedure). Including whether performed as an in-patient or in a domiciliary setting, and the parameters measured.
- Clinical justification for diagnostic test.
- Model and specification of equipment used including sampling rate and averaging time
- Software used to download data, and if not manually scored the criteria used to score the data.
- A description of pre test patient instructions and copies of any paper work given to the patient to aid diagnosis / interpretation of diagnostic data e.g. ESS, Stop Bang questionnaires, questionnaires relating to overnight studies, Patient history sheet
- Description of your local quality assurance and cleaning protocol.
- Whether you manually score the traces, rely on the software generated analysis, or a combination of the two.
SECTION C
4) Describe with the aid of diagrams/actual traces the signals derived by a respiratory/polygram and how these are used to classify and diagnose sleep disorders. This should include both direct and indirectly derived measurements, how the measurements are derived on the equipment you use, and both technical and physiological reasons that may affect the measurements. (1500 words)
5) Describe how the additional measurements generated by a limited channel study aid diagnosis compared to oximetry alone. (100 words)
6) Describe with the aid of diagrams, the mechanisms, causes, and common symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Hypopnoea Syndrome and Central Sleep Apnoea. Describe with the aid of diagrams/actual diagnostic traces how you would differentiate between the two. (1500 words)
SECTION D - Patient Tests – (included 2 examples of each)
7) Your Portfolio should contain Patient Tests (2 of each) with an explanation of the classification used to determine each category of patient and the scoring criteria used. These can be oximetry or limited channel traces, or a combination of the two. You should include an overview of the whole night’s trend of the study along with a summary report including areas of interest from the trace.
For patient 9 only one actual trace is required. If no actual patient trace is available for patient 9, a description of the syndromes including diagrams, and how they would be recognised will be acceptable.
- Normal patient
- Patient with mild obstructive sleep apnoea
- Patient with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea
- Patient with severe obstructive sleep apnoea
- Patient with 4% SpO2 dip rate of <5 in a sleepy patient with pulse rate changes indicating significant arousals
- Non sleepy patient with a 4% SpO2 dip rate of >5-15 (with or without significant pulse rate arousals)
- Patient showing periodic hypoxic dips (e.g. positional or REM related)
- Traces which required editing with a brief explanation as to why. A copy of the unedited trace should also be included
- Patient with Overlap Syndrome (Obstructive Sleep Apnoea + Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or a patient with Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome.
- (Paediatric alternative) Patient showing HR changes that are the diagnostically significant (for example a patient having oxygen titration)
You should include details of the reason for referral, patient demographics, relevant medical history and a technical report on the trace including relevant details provided by the patient about the nights study. You should qualify how the trace was scored e.g. manually, software generated, combination.
Please ensure all patient data included in your portfolio is anonymised.
Important Information
- Please ensure that all patient identifiable data in your portfolio is anonymised. Failure to do so will constitute a breach of patient confidentiality and will result in an automatic fail being awarded.
- You must include a signed witness statement from a senior member of staff at the place that you are employed indicating that all of the traces included have been downloaded by you.
- Except in the case where organisational policies/procedures are asked for, all work submitted must be your own. Evidence of plagiarism will result in a fail being awarded.
- You must ensure any confidential information is removed. This includes all patient identifiers. If you do not comply with this requirement, an automatic fail will be awarded.
Submitting your completed portfolio
On completion, please send the portfolio electronically to development@artp.org.uk. If the file size exceeds 10mb, we kindly request that you submit your portfolio using an online transfer facility such as WeTransfer or Dropbox. Please ensure that all documents are labelled with your name. It is advisable to retain a copy for your records.
Deadline Date
You have 6 months to complete a portfolio and this date includes any reattempts required.
Results
Details of your results will be forwarded to you within 8 - 10 weeks of receiving the above. If you require any further information do not hesitate to contact us on development@artp.org.uk.
Extensions
If you are unable to complete your work by the assigned deadline, please complete this extension form here and email it to development@artp.org.uk before your deadline date.
Reasonable Adjustments
Candidates with impairments or learning difficulties may apply for additional time to complete their portfolio by completing a Special Requirements Form and returning it to development@artp.org.uk