Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35944944›Full record

ArticleBMJ open respiratory research2022

COPD disease knowledge, self-awareness and reasons for hospital presentations among a predominately Indigenous Australian cohort: a study to explore preventable hospitalisation.

Arijeet Pal, Timothy P Howarth, Chris Rissel, Raelene Messenger, Siji Issac, Linda Ford, Christine Connors, Subash Heraganahally

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open respiratory research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
5.2field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 34 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Mapping the Burden and Risk Factors of Allergic Diseases and Asthma Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People: A Scoping Review.Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Arijeet PalCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Timothy P HowarthCollege of Health and Human Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3028-0376
Chris RisselCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-2156-8581
Raelene MessengerDepartment of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Siji IssacDepartment of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Linda FordCollege of Indigenous Futures, Education & Arts, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Christine ConnorsDepartment of Health & Community Services, Top End Health Service, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Subash HeraganahallyCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia hssubhashcmc@hotmail.com.ORCID 0000-0003-0788-7137
Flinders University · AUCharles Darwin University · AURoyal Darwin Hospital · AUNorthern Territory Health Services · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is higher among Indigenous Australians than that of non-Indigenous Australians. However, no studies have investigated COPD disease awareness and knowledge among Indigenous Australians. In this study, we assessed the COPD disease awareness among Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients in the Top End Health Service region of the Northern Territory of Australia.

methodsOf a total convenience sample of 100 adults, 86 patients consented to participate in this study over a 15-month period. A structured interview was conducted to identify participant's level of knowledge about COPD, medications, self-management, healthcare interaction and utilisations.

resultsMost (69%) participants were Indigenous and men (52%). Indigenous patients were significantly younger (mean 56 vs 68 years p<0.001), with a higher proportion of remote residence and current smoking. COPD knowledge across the cohort was low, with 68% of Indigenous and 19% of non-Indigenous participants reporting they 'know nothing/had never heard of COPD'. Most patients self-reported use of puffers/inhalers and were able to identify medication used; however, adherence to therapy was observed in only 18%. Shortness of breath was the most common symptom for hospital presentation (83%) and 69% of Indigenous patients reported seeking medical attention during an exacerbation. Self-management and COPD action plans were poorly implemented. A significant proportion (49%) reported ≥2 hospital admissions in the preceding 12 months. During exacerbation, although the majority of Indigenous patients were transferred to a tertiary centre from remote communities, patient's preference was to be managed in their respective local communities.

conclusionsAwareness and understanding of COPD are low in this cohort on several domains. Tailored and culturally appropriate initiatives for both patients and health professionals alike are required to improve COPD disease management among Indigenous population. This will not only improve quality of life but also reduce recurrent hospitalisation, healthcare cost and utilisation.

Indexed as

Pulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveQuality of LifeAdultHospitalizationHospitalsHumansMaleNorthern TerritoryCOPD epidemiologyCOPD exacerbationscough/mechanisms/pharmacologyemphysemaexerciselung physiologyperception of asthma/breathlessnesspulmonary rehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID35944944
PMCPMC9367193
OpenAlexW4290793611

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.