[A cross-sectional survey of the knowledge on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in physicians of tertiary hospitals in Northern China].

Abstract

To investigate physicians' knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in tertiary hospitals in northeast China. Physicians from 77 tertiary hospitals in northeast China were surveyed with a questionnaire, which included questions such as risk factors, symptoms, exacerbations, comorbidities and diagnostic criteria of COPD. Besides cigarette smoking, air pollution and pulmonary infections, only 22.5%(40/178) physicians recognized that the biomass fuels may induce COPD. Totally 59.0%(105/178) physicians recognized the importance of spirometry to the diagnosis of COPD. Besides dyspnea, cough, sputum production, wheezing and chest tightness, only 23.7%(42/177) of physicians considered that limitation of activity was an important symptom of COPD. 65.5%(116/177) physicians believed that recurrent lung infections was one of the most important comorbidities of COPD. However, less than 30%[20.9%(37/177)-28.8%(51/177)] physicians were aware of the other important comorbidities. The physicians of tertiary hospitals in northeast China need to be systematically educated on COPD to meet the new guideline.