Table 2.
Physician characteristics and diagnostic accuracy: bivariate analysis
| Physician characteristics | Patients included (n=962) | Inadequate diagnosis (n=513) | Adequate diagnosis (n=449) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years)* | 53.2 (8.2) | 54.4 (7.5) | 51.8 (8.8) | <0.0001 |
| Male | 833 (86.6%) | 452 (88.1%) | 381 (84.9%) | 0.14 |
| Primary care physician | 682 (70.9%) | 434 (84.6%) | 248 (55.2%) | <0.0001 |
| Rural care center | 236 (24.7%) | 159 (31.4%) | 77 (17.1%) | <0.0001 |
| Experience >10 years | 881 (92.6%) | 483 (95.5%) | 398 (89.4%) | <0.0001 |
| Patients seen each week | ||||
| ≤50 | 176 (18.2%) | 65 (12.7%) | 111 (24.7%) | Reference |
| 51–100 | 243 (25.3%) | 110 (21.4%) | 133 (29.6%) | 0.08 |
| >100 | 543 (56.5%) | 338 (65.9%) | 205 (45.7%) | <0.0001 |
| Patients with COPD seen each week* | 17.6 (10.9) | 15.8 (8.4) | 16.8 (11.0) | 0.21 |
| Schedules follow-up visits in severe COPD cases | 674 (72.9%) | 323 (62.2%) | 351 (80.5%) | 0.008 |
| Uses quality of life questionnaires for COPD patients | 327 (34.1%) | 149 (29%) | 178 (40.0%) | <0.0001 |
| Performs a multidimensional assessment or uses dyspnea scale | 562 (59.1%) | 257 (51.1%) | 305 (68.2%) | <0.0001 |
Note:
*
Expressed as the mean (standard deviation).
Abbreviation: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.