AUTHOR=Wu Qiuhui , Meng Yanhong , Zhang Ruobin , Ding Yuhang , Wang Yongsheng , Zhang Jinping 

TITLE=Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pharmacists on hierarchical management of COPD: a cross-sectional study in Jiangsu Province

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1616768

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1616768

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=PurposeThis study assessed pharmacists’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding hierarchical management of COPD patients, examining influencing factors to inform standardization.Patients and methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2022 to March 2023 using convenience sampling, yielding 206 valid responses via WeChat-distributed questionnaires. Data analysis employed t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression.ResultsPharmacists’ mean scores were: knowledge (6.13 ± 1.96), attitudes (27.56 ± 3.37), and practices (21.02 ± 6.06). Regression analysis highlighted correlations between knowledge scores and gender, education, and hospital level (p < 0.05); attitudes and academic qualifications (p < 0.05); practices and hospital level (p < 0.05).ConclusionPharmacists demonstrated moderate knowledge, positive attitudes, and average practices in COPD management. Tailored training programs addressing educational and institutional disparities are essential to enhance their capacity in hierarchical COPD care.