Awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in current smokers: a nationwide survey.
OBJECTIVE
Cigarette smoking is the most common risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies of the attitudes toward COPD of smokers, the group at risk of developing this condition, have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of and attitudes toward COPD of current smokers.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 502 individuals aged 45 and older from throughout Korea who smoked at least 10 packs of cigarettes per year. Telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire were conducted with respondents.


RESULTS
First, we evaluated the health status of subjects, finding that 45.4% considered themselves to be in good health. We also asked about COPD-related symptoms, and 60.6% of subjects reported such symptoms. However, only 1.2% of subjects had been diagnosed with or treated for COPD, only 0.4% spontaneously mentioned COPD as a respiratory disease, and only 26.5% recognized COPD as a respiratory disease after seeing a list of such diseases. Television ranked as the top source of information about COPD. The willingness of 45.0% of subjects to stop smoking increased after being informed about COPD.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite having COPD-related symptoms, most smokers did not know that COPD is a respiratory disease. The attitudes of smokers toward COPD and smoking cessation varied according to socioeconomic status. In summary, a continuous effort to increase the awareness of COPD among smokers is needed. Additionally, strategies tailored according to different socioeconomic groups will also be necessary.
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
So Yeong
SY
Mun
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
Yong Il
YI
Hwang
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
Joo Hee
JH
Kim
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
Sunghoon
S
Park
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
Seung Hun
SH
Jang
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
Jae Yong
JY
Seo
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
Ja Kyung
JK
Kim
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
Yong Bum
YB
Park
Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Jae Jung
JJ
Shim
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang, Korea.
Ki-Suck
KS
Jung
D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001364:Awareness; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
Attitude; Awareness; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive