Level of Knowledge About COPD Among Patients and Caregivers

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major health burden worldwide. COPD-specific education may positively affect the emotional distress associated with the disease and may contribute to the patients' poor health-related quality of life. Studies have shown that education regarding COPD is lacking among disease sufferers. The aim of our study was to evaluate the knowledge of COPD among patients and caregivers. We used the Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire in hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients with COPD and other pulmonary diseases, their caregivers, and healthy volunteers. Mean total knowledge score of patients with COPD was 24.27 +/- 8.44, of patients with other respiratory diseases 25.53 +/- 7.93, of caregivers of patients with COPD 21.80 +/- 5.32, of caregivers of patients with other pulmonary diseases 23.50 +/- 8.79, and of healthy subjects 25.85 +/- 9.27 (p = 0.071). Our data further indicate the lack of knowledge of COPD among patients and their carers and emphasize the need of education programs.