Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine current awareness about the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary rehabilitation among patients with COPD.
Materials-Methods: A total of 200 patients who were diagnosed as COPD according to the Gold criteria and followed up at Pamukkale University Department of Chest Diseases were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with COPD were recorded. Previously implemented awareness of COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation questionnaire consisting of 22 questions formed via examining the earlier awareness surveys was completed, face to face with patients.
Results: In our study there were 186 men (93%), 14 women (7%) patients diagnosed with COPD. The mean age of the subjects was 65.11±10 years, the mean period of the disease was 7.8±6.69 years. The rate of awareness in the questions about COPD ranges from 40 to 86%. Only 29(14.5%) patients answered yes to the question Is there any other treatment options rather than drugs in COPD?. Only 15(7.5%) patients replied yes to the question have you ever heard about pulmonary rehabilitation?. The awareness rate ranges from 13 to 47% in the parameters questioning exercises of pulmoner rehabilitation. 55(27.5%) of the patients had been proposed to take pulmonary rehabilitation programme, but only 43(21.5%) patient had participated in such a programme.
Conclusion: We found that the awareness of pulmonary rehabilitation is very low. Therefore, in our opinion it is essential to find out new methods novel strategies to increase the awareness of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015