title: What do patients really know about cardiopulmonary rehabilitation: a cross-sectional survey study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although it is known that cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CPR) reduces mortality and morbidity, it is not widely implemented as is in Turkey. One factor might be lack of demand since the levels of knowledge and awareness among patients who are eligible for CPR seem to be insufficient.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  It is aimed to investigate the level of awareness and knowledge of CPR among patients with cardiopulmonary problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knowledge regarding CPR was assessed by questionnaires given to 690 patients recruited in seven university hospitals and six training and research hospitals in which either comprehensive or limited CPR services are available.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who have cardiopulmonary problems
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients, 34.7% were given information on CPR by healthcare staff, and 25.3% reported that their source of information was physicians. Although 49.9% of the patients knew that they needed to exercise for their cardiac/pulmonary problems, only 23.4% and 32.1% of those were aware that fast walking and climbing stairs, respectively, would not pose a risk to their cardiac/pulmonary health. The majority of the patients believed that activities of daily living, which comprise the most important component of exercise-based CPR, were harmful for their cardiopulmonary health. We found that 31.1% of the patients exercised regularly. During their stay at the hospital, certain kinds of exercises were suggested to 62.7% of the patients, and 34.7% of these patients performed various exercises. Of the patients who were given detailed information on cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, 69% stated that they would be willing to participate in a similar program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although nearly half of the patients stated that they needed CR, it was observed that the ratio of patients who had true knowledge of CPR was low among patients. It is imperative to furnish patients with information on CPR, both in the field of PMR and throughout Turkey, and to put more effort into running those services effectively. Furthermore, we should make an effort to increase the level of liaison between patients and physicians and other healthcare professionals who participate in the treatment of cardiac/pulmonary patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Ege, Turkey.
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Karapolat
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kurtaiş
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Tur
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demirsoy
authors.forename: Ö
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Özyemişci Taşkiran
authors.forename: Ü
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Sarp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hafiz
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Külcü
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarikaya
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soyupek
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sütbeyaz
authors.forename: S Ü
authors.initials: SÜ
authors.lastname: Delialioğlu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alemdaroğlu
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ordu Gökkaya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Köseoğlu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ekşioğlu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duyur Çakit
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dülgeroğlu Erdoğdu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tuncay
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Figen Ayhan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Güzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000193:education* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult