The evaluation of primary care physicians' knowledge on common respiratory diseases: Findings of Action Now Study: an online survey of primary care physicians in China

Background: Primary care plays an important role in the management of respiratory diseases and primary care physicians’ ability is the cornerstone. Methods An e-questionnaire was distributed to attendees of respiratory diseases academic conferences in China from July, 2017 to December, 2018 to assess primary care physicians’ knowledge level of asthma, CAP, COPD and influenza in China. Results The feedback rate was 100%, including 4815 valid questionnaires, 3802 (79.0%) from community hospitals and 1013 (21.0%) from township hospitals. The average score of the questionnaire was 83.31(± 20.397) and 72.12(± 20.898) in township and community hospitals ( P ༜0.05), respectively. 61.4%, 48.7% and 42.5% of the primary care physicians were aware of clinical manifestations of COPD, asthma and simple influenza. 85.7%, 8.1%, 16.1% and 1.0% knew how to diagnose COPD, asthma, CAP and influenza, respectively. 94.4% of the physicians didn’t know bronchodilators for COPD; 53.7% knew non-pharmacological treatments for COPD. 73.6% were unable to deal with asthma attacks. 65.1% didn’t know what the most essential and important treatment for influenza was. 92% physicians didn’t know the management for stable COPD; 3.0% knew all prevention and management measures for asthma. 37.9% knew all the preventive measures for CAP. 44.9% didn’t know the important role of influenza vaccine in preventing influenza and its complications. Conclusions Primary care physicians in China had a poor knowledge on asthma, CAP, COPD and influenza, but township hospitals physicians had a better knowledge than community hospitals physicians.