CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE - COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PROGRAM INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL-EDUCATION AND SCREENING BY A VOLUNTARY HEALTH AGENCY

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Abstract
A community program for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that included detection by screening, professional education, community involvement and evaluation of results is described. Key figures in the success of this program were senior medical students. In the 1st community, in which no professional education was offered, 45.3% of persons screened who had abnormal test results came away from their physicians understanding that they did not have a signficant health problem. In subsequent communities, in which professional education was a part of the program, this percentage decreased steadily to approximately 11%. Of the persons screened who had abnormal results, 25% did not consult a physician. Of the participants with abnormal results of screening and no previous knowledge of pulmonary disease, 21% stopped smoking in the ensuing 2-3 yr; 11.7% of the control group of persons with normal screening results did so.