Awareness and Impact of COPD in Korea: An Epidemiologic Insight Survey.
10.4046/trd.2011.71.6.400
- Author:
Yong Il HWANG
1
;
O Jung KWON
;
Young Whan KIM
;
Young Sam KIM
;
Yong Bum PARK
;
Myung Goo LEE
;
Dong Gyu KIM
;
Seung Hun JANG
;
Ki Suck JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. pulmoks@hallym.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive;
Behavior;
Data Collection
- MeSH:
Adrenal Cortex Hormones;
Cholinergic Antagonists;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Delivery of Health Care;
Humans;
Length of Stay;
Lung Diseases, Obstructive;
Prescriptions;
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
- From:Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2011;71(6):400-407
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: There were a few studies which were conducted to know about the behavior of the chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) patients. The aims of this study was to explore the behaviour of COPD patients, such as awareness and impact of disease, the pathway of visiting doctors, and the treatment pattern and preference. METHODS: A face-to-face interview of 300 subjects with COPD was conducted. RESULTS: The most concerned symptom which made the respondents to visit the hospital was 'breathlessness' (78%). Only 58% of them knew the exact diagnosis. Seventy-three percent of them visited the hospital 'once a month' or 'once every 2 month'. They have made 12.8 prescheduled visits to the hospital in the past 1 year. Unscheduled visits and hospital stay figured to two in the past year. Only 11% of respondents felt they were currently in good health. 'Severe' and 'very severe' COPD patients perceived their health to be in a worse condition than 'mild' and 'moderate' COPD patients. When conditions worsened, 42% of patients were hospitalized. The most common prescription treatment was a fixed combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2 agonists (48%), followed by a long acting anticholinergics (38%). CONCLUSION: Over forty percent of the patients didn't know exactly about their condition. Most of them had a negative attitude toward their current health status. Doctors need to know more about COPD patients in terms of their attitude toward the disease, impact of the disease, interaction with healthcare professionals and treatment related problems.
