title: Knowledge about COPD among users of primary health care services.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often underdiagnosed, which might be attributable to a lack of knowledge about the disease among the general population. The objective of this study was to evaluate COPD-related knowledge among primary care users in an urban area in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out at primary care clinics (PCCs), including 12 general PCCs and 26 family health PCCs, in the city of Goiânia, Brazil. Between May 2013 and February 2014, we interviewed 674 PCC users, applying a questionnaire designed to assess COPD-related knowledge. Satisfactory knowledge of COPD was defined as knowing at least two of its symptoms and that smoking is a risk factor for the disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 674 users interviewed, only 9.2% recognized the term "COPD", 75.1% recognized the term "emphysema", and 15.7% did not recognize either term. We found that recognizing either term was associated with a higher level of education (P<0.001). The prevalence of satisfactory knowledge of COPD was 16.2%, and having such knowledge was associated with being over 60 years of age. The COPD symptom known by the greatest proportion of users (70.6%) was dyspnea, and most (87.5%) knew that smoking is a risk factor, whereas only a few (4.9%) knew that exposure to wood smoke is also a risk factor. The most frequently cited sources of knowledge were the media (43.1%) and a relative with COPD (36.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the PCC users evaluated did not know the term "COPD" but were familiar with the term "emphysema". The level of basic knowledge about the disease was low in this population. These results should alert health care administrators to the need for interventions aimed at increasing the diagnosis rate and thus promoting the early treatment of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Conceição de Castro Antonelli Monteiro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Queiroz
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Auxiliadora Carmo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Division at Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jardim
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Alves
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minamisava
authors.affiliation: Pulmonology Department, Goiânia General Hospital, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heicilainy Del Carlos
authors.initials: Hdel C
authors.lastname: Gondim
authors.affiliation: Pulmonology Department, Goiânia General Hospital, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia Castro
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Vitoria Carmo
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Penhavel
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001938:Brazil; D032882:Comprehension; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011320:Primary Health Care; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health
keywords: health professional; perception; primary care; underdiagnosis