Objective To assess the current status of exercise perception in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to analyze the influencing factors. Methods Using a convenience sampling method,207 hospitalized elderly COPD patients from 4 tertiary hospitals in Jinan city from December 2018 to June 2019 were selected as participants. The general information questionnaire,Exercise Benefit/Barriers Scale,Breathlessness Beliefs Questionnaire,Self-efficacy Scale and Social Support Rating Scale were used for investigation. Results The total score of exercise benefits/barriers in 207 elderly COPD patients was (127.34±11.71). Exercise perception was negatively correlated with activity-related fear (r=-0.469,P<0.001),and positively correlated with both self-efficacy and social support (r=0.412,P<0.001;r=0.247,P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that activity-related fear,self-efficacy,social support,and the situation of physical activity prior to COPD were the influlencing factors of exercise perception. Conclusion The level of exercise perception in elderly patients with COPD needs to be improved. Strengthening exercise rehabilitation education and guidance for COPD patients and their families,helping patients eliminate or reduce their fear of physical activity,and improving their self-efficacy and ability to access and utilize social support are beneficial to improve their exercise perception.