Levels of disease knowledge and predictive factors in COPD patients, caregivers, and patient–caregiver dyads

The aim of this study was to examined COPD disease knowledge in patient-only, caregiver-only, and patient-caregiver dyads and predicted factors based on patient or caregiver characteristics. Conducted with 225 COPD patients and caregivers, data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the COPD Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES), the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and the Self-Efficacy Scale (SES). Caregivers had higher BCKQ scores than patients and patient-caregiver dyads had lower scores. Factors predicting patients' knowledge included education level, comorbidity status, COPD stage, number of hospitalizations, and PHQ-9 score. For caregivers, factors were education level, employment status, and caregiver type. For dyads, predictors included COPD stage, caregiver education, caregiver type, cohabitation with the patient, and patient's PHQ-9 score. The findings highlight the need to enhance COPD management knowledge among patients and caregivers and to focus on patient-caregiver partnerships in education.