Abstract
Background: Despite the high prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the majority of patients are undiagnosed. The low diagnostic rate is due to the low rate of recognition of COPD in general populations. We aimed to evaluate the COPD recognition rate and its determinant factors in the original users of our smoking cessation app.
Methods: An online survey of 2528 users of our mobile app for smoking cessation was performed. These users replied to an anonymous self-administered questionnaire that included demographics, COPD recognition, the Tobacco Dependence Screener, and sources of health and medical information. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables related to COPD recognition.
Results: Forty-five percent of respondents knew of COPD. In multivariate analysis, older people, those with comorbidities, and health-care workers had a higher COPD recognition rate than males, patients with a high Brinkman index, and people who turn to television or word of mouth for health and medical information.
Conclusion: This cross-sectional study of users of our smoking cessation mobile app suggests that the COPD recognition rate is low and is affected by age, sex, comorbidities, smoking amount, occupation, and sources of health and medical information.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015