Patient knowledge on COPD

Background: The literature showes that COPD patients with adequate knowledge of the disease perform appropriate self-care and have better health outcomes. Therefore, testing the patient knowledge of the disease is a starting point for planning self-care education programs. Aim: To determine the knowledge of COPD in a sample of Italian COPD patients. Method: The Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ) is an instrument that assesses knowledge of COPD in thirteen areas: epidemiology, etiology, symptoms, breathlessness, phlegm, chest infections, exercise, smoking, vaccination, bronchodilators, antibiotics, oral and inhaled steroids. BCKQ was translated in Italian using the forward/backward translation process and its content was validated by a sample of Italian healthcare professionals. In and outpatients were recruited at a University teaching hospital from October 2016 to January 2017. Results: A sample of 103 COPD patients was investigated. The sample mean age was 76 years (range 45-90); 62% were men; 76% had a low education level and 30% of them suffered from severe to very severe COPD. The overall percentage of correct knowledge was 49% with very different percentages in the investigated areas. Symptoms, exercise, phlegm, smoking were the areas in which our sample showed more knowledge, whereas less knowledge were showed on all the areas related to the medications. Knowledge of COPD was not related to patient education, age and severity of disease. Conclusion: The knowledge of COPD in the Italian patients sample is quite limited. Educational interventions are needed focused mainly on the use of medication.