An initial training program was developed to insure constant data quality across the clinical study centers. There were six major areas identified for training: spirometry, subject data collection and data entry, participant eligibility, safety assessment and functional tests, chest CT scans and blood/DNA collection and shipping. In addition to in-person training for coordinators at the Study Launch Meeting, training programs were made available on the study website for each site to train new coordinators. Spirometry skills were assessed after the formal training by requiring each coordinator to submit test values and flow curves on 3 naïve subjects. Radiology technicians were trained at their local sites by a web-based program describing CT scan methods, to provide uniformity in verbal instructions to subjects, performance of the CT protocol, and management of CT data.
