Disease awareness in patients with COPD: measurement and extent

Ilaria Baiardini,1 Paola Rogliani,2 Pierachille Santus,3 Angelo G Corsico,4 Marco Contoli,5 Nicola Scichilone,6 Fabiano Di Marco,7 Patrizia Lessi,8 Carla Scognamillo,8 Giorgia Molinengo,9 Fabio Ferri,10 Vincenzo Patella,11 Giuseppe Fiorentino,12 Mauro Carone,13 Fulvio Braido14 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy; 2Respiratory Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy; 3Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (DIBIC), University of Milan, Milan, Italy; 4Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; 5Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; 6Department of Biomedicine and Internal and Specialistic Medicine (DIBIMIS), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; 7Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; 8Boehringer Ingelheim, Milan, Italy; 9Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; 10MediNeos Observational Research, Modena, Italy; 11U.O. di Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica del Dipartimento delle Discipline Mediche, Battipaglia, Italy; 12U.O.C. Malattie, Fisiopatologia e Riabilitazione Respiratoria A.O. dei Colli, Naples, Italy; 13UOC Pneumologia, ICS Maugeri, IRCCS Cassano Murge, Murge, Italy; 14Department of Internal Medicine, Respiratory Diseases and Allergy Clinic, University of Genova, Azienda Policlinico IRCCS San Martino, Genoa, Italy Background: Patient awareness of COPD refers to knowledge and acceptance of the disease and its treatment. Although it is relevant to management and outcomes, the disease awareness of patients is poorly investigated, and no validated questionnaires are currently available. We aimed to develop the novel Disease Awareness in COPD Questionnaire (DACQ), which was validated in relation to demographic and clinical features, in patients participating in the SATisfaction and Adherence to COPD Treatment (SAT) study.Methods: DACQ was developed according to a list of items regarding the patient’s knowledge, acceptance, and perception of COPD as well as of treatment needs. The questionnaire was validated by assessing internal structure and consistency, correlations with other patient-reported outcomes, and stability over time. Furthermore, the extent of disease awareness of patients enrolled in the SAT study was assessed by using DACQ, and correlations with demographic and clinical features were evaluated.Results: DACQ was composed of four domains. Overall reliability and stability over time were adequate; correlations between DACQ and other tools measuring different constructs (ie, treatment satisfaction, illness perception, impact of COPD symptoms on daily life, and dyspnea severity) were, as expected, more limited. In the enrolled patient sample, a suboptimal level of disease awareness (