Physicians’ Knowledge of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the knowledge of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among physicians involved in pulmonary disease management.

Methods

This multi-regional cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 12, 2019 to January 22, 2020. The participants were enrolled and an electronic questionnaire was exclusively sent to the members of the Lung Cancer Special Committee of the China Medicine Education Association through the WeChat platform. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the associated factors of high PR knowledge scores (≥ 18 points).

Results

From the 858 valid questionnaires, the routine implementation of PR was only reported for 16.95% of physicians. The main reason hindering the implementation of PR for patients was the limited knowledge and awareness of PR among the physicians involved (69.1%). A total of 618 and 240 physicians had high and low knowledge scores, respectively. Multivariable analysis suggests that the self-perception of PR knowledge (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.32–2.771, P = 0.001) was independently associated with high knowledge scores, while having no theoretical knowledge of PR was associated with poor knowledge scores (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.26–0.72, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Inadequate knowledge of pulmonary rehabilitation is evident among physicians who are involved in pulmonary disease management in China. This underscores the need for more comprehensive and standardized training to bolster their awareness and effective utilization of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Keywords:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• pulmonary rehabilitation
• lung cancer
• knowledge
• oncologists

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

The study was approved by the ethics committee and all participants provided written informed consent before the survey.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by Zhejiang Medical and Health Science and Technology program (2023RC034); the Medical Engineering Cross Research Foundation of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (ZH2018QNA67); Scientific Research Project of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (20194Y0168). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the article for publication.