Detection of chronic bronchoobstructive diseases in the Republic of Moldova according the prism of the recommendations of international guidelines

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an important public health problem. According to literature data, chronic lung diseases are underdiagnosed and there are many medical, psychological, social and economic barriers. In order to highlight the barriers and facilitating factors for the detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the level of primary care, a mixed qualitative-quantitative study was carried out, with a survey of 1190 participants and focus groups with doctors. Every fourth patient with respiratory symptoms does not report them to the family doctor and every second symptomatic patient does not perform a spirometry test. The most important barriers are low addressability after medical assistance, underestimation of respiratory symptoms, lack of doctors, professional overload and low access to spirometry at the primary care level.