Abstract

OBJECTIVE: was to assess the effectiveness of COPD awareness campaign on the total number of pulmonary function tests (PFTs).
METHODS: This interventional study was conducted in OPD of Pulmonology Department, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, for a period of only first three weeks of November 2010. Patients those underwent PFTs were divided into three groups, Before the COPD campaign week, during campaign week and after campaign week. COPD awareness campaign was carried out for the first time in Peshawar from November 08-14, 2010. Patients with diagnosed cases of COPD, Asthma and ILD were included in the study that had their PFTs with spirometer during first week of November 2010, during COPD awareness campaign week and a week after it. The effect of campaign was measured statistically by using “t” test for comparison of PFTs in these 03 weeks and P-value < 0.01 was considered significant.
RESULTS: The total numbers of PFTs done from 01 to 07 of November 2010 were 180 and 222 in COPD awareness campaign week (From 08 to 14) and the numbers of PFTs performed in November from 15 to 21 after COPD campaign week were 358. Student “t” test was applied to compare the results between these three weeks demonstrating “P”value

Key words: COPD awareness campaign; OPD (out patient department); PFTs; Spirometer;