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Dementia diagnostics in primary care : a representative 8-year follow-up study in Lower Saxony, Germany

Maeck, L. and Haak, S. and Knoblauch, A. and Stoppe, G.. (2008) Dementia diagnostics in primary care : a representative 8-year follow-up study in Lower Saxony, Germany. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 25 (2). pp. 127-134.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6004277

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Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether primary-care physicians' competency regarding dementia diagnostics improved from 1993 to 2001. METHODS: In a representative follow-up survey 122 out of 170 (71.8%) family physicians (FPs) were randomly assigned to 2 written case samples presenting patients with slight memory impairment (case 1a: female vs. case 1b: male) and moderate dementia [vascular type (case 2a) vs. Alzheimer's disease (case 2b)]. Potential diagnostic workup was inquired by a structured face-to-face interview. RESULTS: 'Basic' diagnostics like history taking or laboratory investigations were considered in the first place. In case 1, neuropsychological screening was significantly more frequently considered at follow-up (19.3% in 1993 vs. 31.1% in 2001); it still would have been applied rarely in case 2 (2a: 14.1 vs. 14.8%; 2b: 23.5 vs. 24.6%). Neuroimaging remained not to be considered as a standard procedure, and only a minority of FPs would have performed a screening for depression (2001: 1a: 6.7%; 1b: 11.3%; 2a: 0.0%; 2b: 1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: With regard to dementia diagnostics in primary care, guideline adherence remained low at follow-up. Structured training efforts aiming at FPs appear to be necessary.
Faculties and Departments:03 Faculty of Medicine > Bereich Psychiatrie (Klinik) > Erwachsenenpsychiatrie UPK > Erwachsenenpsychiatrie (Lang)
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Klinische Forschung > Bereich Psychiatrie (Klinik) > Erwachsenenpsychiatrie UPK > Erwachsenenpsychiatrie (Lang)
UniBasel Contributors:Stoppe, Gabriela
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Karger
ISSN:1420-8008
e-ISSN:1421-9824
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
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Last Modified:23 Oct 2017 15:00
Deposited On:21 Jun 2013 12:23

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