Cognition survey on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among community doctors in Pudong New Area in Shanghai

ObjectiveTo 1investigate the cognition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among community doctors in Pudong New Area, and to provide the basis for COPD community prevention and treatment.

MethodsA total of 325 community doctors were selected for face to face investigation by simple random sampling from 46 communities in Shanghai Pudong New Area.The response rate was 99.1%.Questionnaires surveyed the general conditions, COPD prevention-related knowledge, and COPD management awareness with community doctors.

ResultsIn the course of investigation, 86.6% of community doctors considered that pulmonary function testing was a prerequisite for the diagnosis of COPD; 77.0% of community doctors believed that patients with stable COPD needed maintenance treatment; 26.4% of community doctors considered that aerosols were the first choice of external medicine for patients with stable COPD; 23.0% of community doctors considered that long-term oxygen inhalation might cause dependence; 60.2% of respondents had previously been trained in COPD related knowledge.Only 21.7% knew the main content of the COPD diagnosis and treatment guidelines.And 49.7% of respondents believed that they did not have the ability to provide COPD community with health services, especially they lacked the ability for community management guidance and clinical treatment guidance.Community general doctors had higher levels of COPD-related knowledge and skills than public health doctors, but whether or not they had received standardized training for general practitioners did not affect their COPD-related knowledge and skills.

ConclusionThere are deficiencies with community doctors in their prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COPD.It is necessary to improve the configuration of relevant equipment such as lung function meters, and to strengthen the systematic training of COPD professional knowledge and skills.It is also necessary to improve the standardized training system for general doctors and strengthen the relevant content of COPD prevention, and to effectively improve the ability of community doctors to prevent and control COPD.