Guideline-based COPD management in a resource-limited setting - physicians' understanding, adherence and barriers: a cross-sectional survey of internal and family medicine hospital-based physicians in Nigeria

• Published in: Primary care respiratory journal 2013-03, Vol.22 (1), p.79-85
• Main Authors: Desalu, Olufemi Olumuyiwa, Onyedum, Cajetan C, Adeoti, Adekunle O, Gundiri, Laguhyel B, Fadare, Joseph O, Adekeye, Kehinde A, Onyeri, Kelechi D, Fawibe, Ademola E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Family Practice; Female; Guideline Adherence; Health Care Surveys; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Resources; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Nigeria; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - therapy; Research Paper; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 1471-4418; 1475-1534; 1475-1534
• DOI: 10.4104/pcrj.2013.00014

Few data exist on the understanding and adherence to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines in resource-limited settings, which are mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. To assess physicians' understanding, adherence, and barriers to implementation of GOLD guidelines in Nigeria. A questionnaire based on the recommendations of the guidelines was self-administered by 156 physicians in departments of internal and family medicine in selected hospitals to assess physician understanding of the GOLD guidelines and barriers to its implementation. The medical records of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were also reviewed to assess adherence to the guideline recommendations. The performance score of all physicians was 22.37±0.39 (range 0-38). Pulmonologists had the highest score (37.00±0.00) while medical officers had the lowest score (19.93±4.98) (F=10.16, df=5, p