Pulse Oximetry in the Context of COVID-19: self-learning course

This Lifebox online course covers pulse oximetry and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). It is intended as a resource for healthcare providers who wish to learn more about pulse oximetry and how it can be used to improve care for patients with SARI, including COVID-19.

Topics covered include, basic physiology of oxygen transport, how to use a pulse oximeter, including the Lifebox-Smile Train pulse oximeter, and using a systematic approach to manage hypoxemia in severe acute respiratory infections (SARI).

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

1. Define oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
2. Understand physiology of oxygen transport to tissues
3. Define hypoxemia and understand the importance of early detection
4. Explain what a pulse oximeter is and how it works
5. Identify potential limitations that make some oximeters unsuitable for clinical care

The course is comprised of four modules:

Module 1: Basic physiology of oxygen transport
Module 2: Using A pulse oximeter
Module 3: Managing hypoxemia in severe acute respiratory infections (SARI)
Module 4: Practice managing hypoxemia with case studies

The course takes two to three hours to complete and users receive a certificate upon completion.

The course is available for free on the Lifebox Learning Network – our open access online learning platform.

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