Barriers to referral to pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients from the perspective of general practitioners

Introduction. In spite of recommendations of the highest level of proof (rank A), the respiratory rehabilitation remains very widely sub-prescribed by general practitioners, who are nevertheless in the front line in the care and the follow-up of the patients affected by BPCO. Material and methods. Semi-qualitative study with the general practitioners installed in the city of Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne). Results. The rate of answer was 57%. Eighty-six percent of the patients BPCO followed in general medicine have never participated in a respiratory rehabilitation program. Eighty percent of the questioned general practitioners declared not to know the last recommendations of the HAS. A total of 66.7% of the questioned general practitioners considered that prescription of respiratory rehabilitation comes within their remit. Eighty seven percent of the general practitioners declare not to know the existing respiratory programs of rehabilitation in their region. Conclusion. The main barrier for prescription of respiratory rehabilitation for patients BPCO in general medicine could be the misunderstanding of the local existing programs. The distribution of existing tools such as the map of the programs of respiratory rehabilitation established by the group Alveole of the Society of Pneumology of French language (SPLF) could so be a facilitating factor. (C) 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.