Lack of awareness towards smoking-related health risks, symptoms related to COPD, and attitudinal factors concerning smoking: an Internet-based survey conducted in a random sample of the Danish general population

ABSTRACT

Background: Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, several studies have shown little awareness of COPD in the general population. The awareness of COPD in the Scandinavian countries is, however, sparsely investigated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the awareness in the general Danish population of smoking-related health risks and symptoms related to COPD and attitudinal factors concerning smoking.

Design: Adults aged 18 years or older were randomly selected to reflect the background population. An Internet-based questionnaire was conducted in January–February 2015.

Results: A total of 1002 answered the questionnaire (515 males; 487 females). In total, 17.7% were current smokers (men: 15.5%–women: 19.9%). More smokers and ex-smokers knew the symptoms of COPD compared to never-smokers (p < 0.001). Ex-smokers had undergone more pulmonary function tests than smokers and never-smokers (p < 0.001) and significantly more men than women who had undergone pulmonary function test.

Ex-smokers were more likely to rate cancer as the most feared disease (p = 0.026) than the smokers. Of the smokers, 28% did not regard COPD as a deadly disease and significantly more smokers than ex-/never-smokers believed that smoking cessation should not be mandatory before treatment of COPD and asthma (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Overall, smokers, ex-, and never-smokers had little knowledge of COPD regarding aetiology, symptoms, and severity thus emphasizing the necessity of early detection of COPD and more focus on spirometry in general practice, especially amongst smokers.

There is a great discrepancy between the attitude of smokers and ex-/never-smokers towards mandatory smoking cessation before receiving treatment of smoking-related diseases.

Funding: GlaxoSmithKline Pharma A/S Brøndby, financially supported the collecting of data by Voxmeter A/S. The authors had full access to the raw data and did not receive any financially support.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic Obstructive Lung disease
• awareness of COPD
• smoking
• questionnaire

Acknowledgements

GlaxoSmithKline Pharma A/S Brøndby, financially supported the collecting of data by Voxmeter A/S. The authors had full access to the raw data and did not receive any financially support.

Disclosure statement

Jens Dollerup is a former employee at GSK, but he is independent now as of September 2015, outside the submitted work. This is an epidemiological study and not related to any pharmaceutical treatment. MGS, OH, AL and AF have no conflict of interest.

Authors contribution

GSK financed the collecting of data by Voxmeter A/S. We, the authors, were then given full access to the raw data.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Melina Gade Sikjær

Melina Gade Sikjær, MD, was a resident at the Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, Aarhus University when the work was performed. She is currently working as a resident at the Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Central Jutlan. She is specialising in Pulmonology medicine since September 2015. Her main research focus is COPD. 

Ole Hilberg

Ole Hilberg, MD, Professor at the Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Diseases, Lillebaelt Hospital. He is a specialist in pulmonary diseases, and his main research focus is asthma, interstitial lung diseases, COPD, pulmonary infections, including Tuberculosis. 

Andreas Fløe

Andreas Fløe, MD. PhD.  was studying for his PhD at the Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, Aarhus University when the work was performed. He is currently working as a resident at the Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Randers. He is currently specialising in Pulmonary medicine since September 2014. His main research focus is pulmonary infections, especially Tuberculosis. 

Jens Dollerup

Jens Dollerup holds a M.Sc. from the University of Copenhagen. Worked for more than 30 years in Medical Departments in several major Medical Companies. Worked for more than 30 years in Medical Departments in several major Medical Companies. Worked for more than 30 years in Medical Departments in several major Medical Companies.Worked with cardiovascular diseases, Ophtalmology, Inflammatory diseases and latest several  years within the field of pulmonary diseases. Currently operates his own medical consultancy company.Presented at numerous congresses and meetings and authored many pear reviewed papers.

Anders Løkke

Anders Løkke, MD, is a consultant at The Department of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. He is a specialist in pulmonary diseases, and his main research focus is COPD.