Yonsei Med J.  2015 Mar;56(2):362-367. 10.3349/ymj.2015.56.2.362.

Awareness of COPD in a High Risk Korean Population

• Seo JY
• Hwang YI
• Mun SY
• Kim JH
• Kim JH
• Park SH
• Jang SH
• Park YB
• Shim JJ
• Jung KS

• KMID: 2070011
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2015.56.2.362

Abstract

PURPOSE
Increased awareness and understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important aspect of disease management. The aim of this study was to explore COPD awareness among smokers participating in a smoking cessation program.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 289 subjects in three smoking cessation clinics, using a structured questionnaire.
RESULTS
A total of 68.2% of subjects had COPD-related symptoms, and 19.7% were in poor health. Only 1.0% of the subjects knew that COPD was a respiratory disease. A total of 2.4% of subjects had been diagnosed with COPD and received treatment. Television was the most common source of information about COPD, with 57.1% of the subjects receiving information in this way. After being informed about COPD, smoking-cessation willingness increased in 84.1% of the study group. It increased in 86.3% of the subjects without awareness of COPD and in 81.2% of subjects with COPD-related symptoms.
CONCLUSION
We found that awareness of COPD is very poor among current smokers in Korea. Many smokers perceived their health status as good, despite the presence of COPD-related symptoms. As the level of smoking-cessation willingness was different between those with and without awareness of COPD or COPD-related symptoms, a personalized education program with various educational tools may be needed to enhance awareness of the disease and to motivate smokers to quit.

Keyword

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; awareness; smokers; education

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
*Awareness
Female
*Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Status
Health Surveys
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
Motivation
*Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis/etiology/prevention & control
Questionnaires
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
Smoking/*adverse effects/epidemiology
Smoking Cessation

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Prevalence of COPD-related symptoms. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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  Fig. 2 Smokers' first impressions of lung or respiratory diseases. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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