Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory condition and the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. Optimal COPD management requires patients to participate in their care and physician knowledge of patients' perceptions of their disease. A prospective study in which respiratory specialist physicians completed a practice assessment questionnaire and patient assessments for 15 to 20 consecutive patients with COPD. Patients also completed a questionnaire regarding their perceptions of COPD and its management. A total of 58 respiratory specialist physicians from across Canada completed practice assessments and 931 patient assessments. A total of 640 patients with COPD (96% with moderate, severe or very severe disease) completed questionnaires. Symptom burden was high and most patients had experienced a recent exacerbation. Potential COPD care gaps were identified with respect to appropriate medication prescription, lack of an action plan, and access to COPD educators and pulmonary rehabilitation. Perceived knowledge needs and gaps differed between physicians and patients. Despite the dissemination of Canadian and international COPD clinical practice guidelines for more than a decade, potential care gaps remain among patients seen by respiratory specialist physicians. Differing perceptions regarding many aspects of COPD among physicians and patients may contribute to these care gaps.
Highlights
P hernandez, Ms Balter, J Bourbeau, CK Chan, dd Marciniuk, sL Walker
Potential Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care gaps were identified with respect to appropriate medication prescription, lack of an action plan, and access to COPD educators and pulmonary rehabilitation
CoNCLUsIoNs: Despite the dissemination of Canadian and international COPD clinical practice guidelines for more than a decade, potential care gaps remain among patients seen by respiratory specialist physicians
Summary
Canadian practice assessment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Respiratory specialist physician perception versus patient reality. CoNCLUsIoNs: Despite the dissemination of Canadian and international COPD clinical practice guidelines for more than a decade, potential care gaps remain among patients seen by respiratory specialist physicians. L’évaluation des pratiques canadiennes en cas de maladie pulmonaire obstructive chronique : la perception du médecin spécialiste en pneumologie par rapport à la réalité du patient. RÉsULtAts : Au total, 58 médecins spécialistes en pneumologie de partout au Canada ont rempli des évaluations de la pratique et 931 évaluations de patient. CoNCLUsIoNs : Malgré la diffusion de lignes de pratique clinique canadiennes et internationales sur la MPOC depuis plus d’une décennie, il reste encore d’éventuelles lacunes en matière de soins des patients traités par des médecins spécialistes en pneumologie. This number likely represents an underestimate of the true prevalence and diagnosis is often made late in the disease course [3]
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