Health Education for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Observational Study

Abstract

Health Education has shown itself as essential for the understanding of individuals about psychological and physical changes caused by diseases. The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a severe public health problem, and it depends on health education measures for its control. A group of patients with COPD, in pneumatological medical treatment, were investigated to find information about the disease. An observational, descriptive and analytical study with analysis and application of a semistructured questionnaire to evaluate the individuals' knowledge about the COPD. Collected data were registered and analyzed using Google Docs. The software used for the calculation of statistical measures was Microsoft Excel®. For the research participants' characterization analysis, the use of grouped data for the frequency distribution of Sturges Rule was necessary. This study provided knowledge about which information a group of bearers of COPD receives at a college hospital providing treatment. The interviewed have an average age of 70 years old and most are women with education level between elementary and high school and diagnose time of 6.8 years. Most of the sample reported knowledge and consciousness about the disease, informed by the doctors, followed by physiotherapists. Although the role of the Ministry of Health in health education, subjects were better informed about the disease by their doctors instead of public campaigns.