Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multicomponent disorder that leads to substantial disability, impaired quality of life, and increased mortality. Although the majority of COPD patients are first diagnosed and treated in primary care practices, there is comparatively little information on the management of COPD patients in primary care. A web-based pilot survey was conducted to evaluate the primary care physician's, or general practitioner's (GP's), knowledge, understanding, and management of COPD in twelve territories across the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, eastern Europe, and Latin America, using a 10-minute questionnaire comprising 20 questions and translated into the native language of each participating territory. The questionnaire was administered to a total of 600 GPs (50 from each territory) involved in the management of COPD patients and all data were collated and analyzed by an independent health care research consultant. This survey demonstrated that the GPs' understanding of COPD was variable across the territories, with large numbers of GPs having very limited knowledge of COPD and its management. A consistent finding across all territories was the underutilization of spirometry (median 26%; range 10%-48%) and reliance on X-rays (median 14%; range 5%-22%) for COPD diagnosis, whereas overuse of blood tests (unspecified) was particularly high in Russia and South Africa. Similarly, there was considerable underrecognition of the importance of exacerbation history as an important factor of COPD and its initial management in most territories (median 4%; range 0%-22%). Management of COPD was well below guideline-recommended levels in most of the regions investigated. The findings of this survey suggest there is a need for more ongoing education and information, specifically directed towards GPs outside of Europe and North America, and that global COPD guidelines appear to have limited reach and application in most of the areas studied.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 271-282 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | International Journal of COPD |
| Volume | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 May 2 |
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Keywords
- COPD
- Guidelines
- Questionnaire
- Survey
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Health Policy
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Primary care physician perceptions on the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in diverse regions of the world. / Aisanov, Zaurbek; Bai, Chunxue; Bauerle, Otto; Colodenco, Federico D.; Feldman, Charles; Hashimoto, Shu; Jardim, Jose; Lai, Christopher K.W.; Laniado-Laborin, Rafael; Nadeau, Gilbert; Sayiner, Abdullah; Shim, Jae Jeong; Tsai, Ying Huang; Walters, Richard D.; Waterer, Grant.
In: International Journal of COPD, Vol. 7, 02.05.2012, p. 271-282.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Primary care physician perceptions on the diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in diverse regions of the world
AU - Aisanov, Zaurbek
AU - Bai, Chunxue
AU - Bauerle, Otto
AU - Colodenco, Federico D.
AU - Feldman, Charles
AU - Hashimoto, Shu
AU - Jardim, Jose
AU - Lai, Christopher K.W.
AU - Laniado-Laborin, Rafael
AU - Nadeau, Gilbert
AU - Sayiner, Abdullah
AU - Shim, Jae Jeong
AU - Tsai, Ying Huang
AU - Walters, Richard D.
AU - Waterer, Grant
PY - 2012/5/2
Y1 - 2012/5/2
N2 - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multicomponent disorder that leads to substantial disability, impaired quality of life, and increased mortality. Although the majority of COPD patients are first diagnosed and treated in primary care practices, there is comparatively little information on the management of COPD patients in primary care. A web-based pilot survey was conducted to evaluate the primary care physician's, or general practitioner's (GP's), knowledge, understanding, and management of COPD in twelve territories across the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, eastern Europe, and Latin America, using a 10-minute questionnaire comprising 20 questions and translated into the native language of each participating territory. The questionnaire was administered to a total of 600 GPs (50 from each territory) involved in the management of COPD patients and all data were collated and analyzed by an independent health care research consultant. This survey demonstrated that the GPs' understanding of COPD was variable across the territories, with large numbers of GPs having very limited knowledge of COPD and its management. A consistent finding across all territories was the underutilization of spirometry (median 26%; range 10%-48%) and reliance on X-rays (median 14%; range 5%-22%) for COPD diagnosis, whereas overuse of blood tests (unspecified) was particularly high in Russia and South Africa. Similarly, there was considerable underrecognition of the importance of exacerbation history as an important factor of COPD and its initial management in most territories (median 4%; range 0%-22%). Management of COPD was well below guideline-recommended levels in most of the regions investigated. The findings of this survey suggest there is a need for more ongoing education and information, specifically directed towards GPs outside of Europe and North America, and that global COPD guidelines appear to have limited reach and application in most of the areas studied.
AB - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multicomponent disorder that leads to substantial disability, impaired quality of life, and increased mortality. Although the majority of COPD patients are first diagnosed and treated in primary care practices, there is comparatively little information on the management of COPD patients in primary care. A web-based pilot survey was conducted to evaluate the primary care physician's, or general practitioner's (GP's), knowledge, understanding, and management of COPD in twelve territories across the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, eastern Europe, and Latin America, using a 10-minute questionnaire comprising 20 questions and translated into the native language of each participating territory. The questionnaire was administered to a total of 600 GPs (50 from each territory) involved in the management of COPD patients and all data were collated and analyzed by an independent health care research consultant. This survey demonstrated that the GPs' understanding of COPD was variable across the territories, with large numbers of GPs having very limited knowledge of COPD and its management. A consistent finding across all territories was the underutilization of spirometry (median 26%; range 10%-48%) and reliance on X-rays (median 14%; range 5%-22%) for COPD diagnosis, whereas overuse of blood tests (unspecified) was particularly high in Russia and South Africa. Similarly, there was considerable underrecognition of the importance of exacerbation history as an important factor of COPD and its initial management in most territories (median 4%; range 0%-22%). Management of COPD was well below guideline-recommended levels in most of the regions investigated. The findings of this survey suggest there is a need for more ongoing education and information, specifically directed towards GPs outside of Europe and North America, and that global COPD guidelines appear to have limited reach and application in most of the areas studied.
KW - COPD
KW - Guidelines
KW - Questionnaire
KW - Survey
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860301909&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84860301909&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2147/COPD.S28059
DO - 10.2147/COPD.S28059
M3 - Article
C2 - 22563246
AN - SCOPUS:84860301909
VL - 7
SP - 271
EP - 282
JO - International Journal of COPD
JF - International Journal of COPD
SN - 1176-9106
ER -