Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Abstract

Objective: The pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is multidisciplinary, evidence-based and personalized treatment approach for patients with a symptomatic chronic respiratory disease and reduced daily living activities. In this study, we aimed to determine the knowledge level of chest physicians about PR in our city.
Methods: A standardized questionnaire consisting of 10 questions was conducted to a total of 40 chest diseases specialist and assistant doctors who are working at the university hospital, training and research hospital and a private hospital in Diyarbakir city and its purlieus. The questions about the definition of PR, goals, evaluation criteria, patient who candidate for rehabilitation and rehabilitation team, were asked in questionnaire. Ten points was given for each correct answer to closed-ended questions. The knowledge level were identified as low, moderate and high when points were <50, 50-79 and 80-100 respectively.
Results: The mean age of participants was 36.1 ± 7.79 and working duration time in chest disease department was 5.57 ± 7.71 years. Seventy-eight point nine percent of university hospital doctors, 57.1% of training and research hospital doctors, 50% of private hospital doctors were answered correctly more than half of the questions.
Conclusion: The knowledge of chest physicians about PR is substantially in low and moderate levels in our city. The creation of a curriculum about PR in medical schools, and postgraduate training of physicians in the field will raise awareness about this issue, and might increase the interest of physicians and patients to PR.