title: The general public's knowledge of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its determinants: current situation and recent changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its determinants in the general population of Spain, and to compare it with a similar survey conducted in 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, epidemiological study in September 2011 by means of a telephone interview with a representative sample of individuals aged 40-80 years living in all 17 regions of Spain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 6,528 responses were obtained (response rate of 13.1%), 53% of respondents were females with a mean age of 59.8 years. Regarding tobacco use, 19.4% were current smokers while 27.9% reported being former smokers. Only 17.0% spontaneously recognized the term «COPD». Valencia was the region with the highest degree of ignorance regarding COPD (91%), while Aragon had the lowest (73.7%). Nevertheless, COPD is considered a severe disease, following angina pectoris in severity. Upon comparing these results with the previous survey from 2002, we observed significant improvements in the knowledge and understanding of COPD (8.6% vs. 17.0%), with a marked variability between the regions (P<.05). Currently, only 4.7% of the Spanish population knows that there is a National Strategy for COPD, although 86.0% have a favorable or very favorable opinion about the new Anti-tobacco Law.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of knowledge about COPD and its determinants in the general population remains high compared to 2002; thus, more and better educational and awareness programs are necessary.
authors: Programa de Epidemiología e Investigación Clínica; Fundación Caubet-CIMERA Illes Balears, Bunyola, Islas Baleares, España. jbsoriano@caubet-cimera.es
authors: Joan B
authors: JB
authors: Soriano
authors: Myriam
authors: M
authors: Calle
authors: Teodoro
authors: T
authors: Montemayor
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: Alvarez-Sala
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Ruiz-Manzano
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Miravitlles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D013147:Spirometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data