The statement "To date, there is a paucity of research that describes COPD patients' awareness of prodromal symptoms that precede exacerbation or the recognition of individual patterns of symptoms that accompany an acute exacerbation of COPD. The reasons patients delay seeking treatment for acute exacerbation symptoms has also not been fully explored" describes the __________ in a research study.

- Theory statement

- Research problem

- Purpose statement

- Thesis statement