title: Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary care: a questionnaire survey in western Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the primary care management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in relation to COPD guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal questionnaire was sent out to all Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs) in western Sweden (n=232). The response rate was 75%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A majority of the PHCCs had a nurse and physician responsible for COPD care. They used spirometry equipment regularly, but only 50% reported that they calibrated it at least weekly. Less than 30% of the PHCCs reported access to a dietician, occupational therapist or physiotherapist. There was a structured smoking cessation program in 50% of the PHCCs. Larger PHCCs were more likely to use spirometry equipment regularly and to have specific personnel for COPD care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to establish structured programs for COPD care including smoking cessation programs for COPD patients with special trained staff. Larger PHCCs have a better infrastructure for providing guideline-defined COPD care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine/Primary Health Care, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Sweden. jorgen.thorn@allmed.gu.se
authors.forename: Jörgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thorn
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norrhall
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Curiac
authors.forename: Gösta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Axelsson
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ammon
authors.forename: Jörgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Månsson
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brisman
authors.forename: Anna-Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Söderström
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Björkelund
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013147:Spirometry / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden