Awareness Among Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: Chronic airway diseases, despite being significant causes of mortality and morbidity, are not adequately understood by both patients and the general population. This lack of awareness results in deficiencies in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, as well as the failure to implement preventive measures. The aim of our study is to evaluate the level of knowledge about asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in our community.

Methods: Between November 2023 and February 2024, a total of 108 patients aged 18 years and older diagnosed with asthma or COPD presented to the Chest Diseases Outpatient Clinic of Rize and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Hospital. Province Primary Health Care Center No 1. Participants were administered a sociodemographic data form and the Turkish Ministry of Health Chronic Respiratory Diseases Prevention and Control Program Asthma-COPD Awareness Survey Form, which included questions related to asthma and COPD. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS v16 software, and p<0.05 was accepted as statistical significance.

Results: In the study, 108 participants were included, of whom 56 were female and 52 were male. Of these, 26.9% were diagnosed with COPD and 70.4% with asthma. Among the participants, 88.9% recognized COPD as a lung-affecting disease, and the same percentage identified smoking as its most significant factor in development. Additionally, 85.2% knew that quitting smoking is the first step in prevention and treatment. However, only 52.8% of participants were aware that COPD is treatable. Regarding asthma, nearly all participants (94.4%) knew it can occur in all age groups, but only 40.7% recognized it could be hereditary, and 79.6% understood it is not contagious.

Conclusion: Asthma and COPD are not sufficiently understood by patients suffering from these diseases. They lead to significant mortality and morbidity, imposing substantial burdens on work, social life, and economics. Increasing awareness and improving knowledge about COPD and asthma within the community are crucial for enhancing treatment success.