Audit of management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by general practitioner in Morrocco

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study initiated in January 2003 was to evaluate the awareness of general practitioners in Morrocco concerning the diagnosis and initial management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHOD AND RESULTS: Ten percent of the COPD patients, selected at random, participated in the study, i.e; 223 patients/2186. The proportion of COPD patients among patients attending consultations was 5 to 10% for 40% of general practitioners. Only 48.9% of the general practitioners were aware of international guidelines for the management of COPD. For 97.8%, chronic bronchial symptoms were the predominant reasons for suspecting the diagnosis of COPD; other symptoms included exercise induced dyspnea (95.1%). Only 10.8% of the general practitioners ordered a spirometry examination. Only 30.5% managed patients themselves. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that general practitioners should be implicated in the diagnosis and early management of COPD but that management practices could be improved.