<br/> CONHECIMENTO DO UTENTE COM DOENÇA PULMONAR OBSTRUTIVA CRÓNICA SOBRE A DOENÇA E O AUTOCUIDADO <br/>

Abstract

Introduction : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic respiratory disease, progressively incapacitating, which requires the user to undergo a complex therapeutic regimen. Given the implications, it is essential that the user acquire knowledge about the disease that enhances self-care and self-management, which instills significance in the promotion of health literacy, as a health-promoting strategy. This study aimed to analyze the user's knowledge about the disease, self-care and disease management. Method : This is a simple descriptive study, the target population was six users with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the area covered by a Community Care Unit in the municipality of Beja. A convenience sample was constituted, with inclusion and exclusion criteria and the data collection instrument used was the semi-structured interview, carried out in April 2021. Data collection began after a favorable opinion from the Ethics Committee of the Local Health Unit of Baixo Alentejo. Results : Data were analyzed using Bardin's content analysis technique, using an inductive categorization strategy. The following categories emerged from the analysis: lack of knowledge about the disease; deficit of knowledge about self-care; lack of knowledge about disease management. Conclusion : It was concluded that users, in addition to presenting a deficit of knowledge about the disease, self-care and disease management, also present compromised leisure activities. Keywords : Health Literacy; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Self Care; Self-Management.