Symptom severity, burden, and psychosocial impact were commonly overestimated by COPD patients who have not had extensive exposure to education programs led by lung specialists, according to Canadian research published in the journal Respiratory Medicine.

The small study determined that, while most patients believed they had a good understanding of their disease, those who had minimal contact with lung health educators actually had little understanding of what their symptoms meant, what the warning signs for an exacerbation were, and what actions should be taken when symptoms occur.

"Collaborative, self-management education involving patient, family caregivers, primary care physicians, specialists, and COPD educators/case managers" is one possible solution to this problem, the authors suggest.