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Attitudes to diagnosis and management in dementia care: views of future general practitioners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2016

Eugene Yee Hing Tang Open the ORCID record for Eugene Yee Hing Tang [Opens in a new window] ,
Ratika Birdi  and
Louise Robinson
Eugene Yee Hing Tang*
Affiliation:
Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Ratika Birdi
Affiliation:
Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Louise Robinson
Affiliation:
Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr. Eugene Tang, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Level 2, Biomedical Research Building, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK. Phone: 0191 2088758. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Considerable international governmental support is focused on the timely diagnosis of dementia and post-diagnostic care of people with dementia. Identifying those at high risk of dementia is one approach to timely diagnosis. General practitioners (GPs) are well-placed clinicians in the community to provide both pre- and post-diagnostic dementia care. However, GPs have in the past consistently demonstrated low confidence in both diagnosing dementia and providing care for these complex patients particularly for patients in the post-diagnostic phase. It is currently unclear how future GPs view dementia care. We aimed to evaluate the current attitudes and experiences of future GPs in dementia care and their views on targeting high risk groups. All (n = 513) GP trainees were approached by email to participate in a cross-sectional web and paper-based survey in the North of England. A further reminder was sent out two months after the initial invitation. We received 153 responses (29.8% response rate, 66.7% female, average age 31 (range 25–55 years old). The main difficulties encountered included coordinating supporting services for carers and the person with dementia and responding to co-existing behavioral and psychiatric symptoms. Further education in dementia management was considered to be important by respondents. GP trainees were generally very positive about their future role in caring for people with dementia, particularly in the area of earlier diagnosis via identification of high-risk individuals. Future GPs in one area of England are very positive about their key role in dementia care. In order to facilitate the delivery of high quality, community-based care, work is required to establish core post-diagnostic dementia support services. Further research is needed to identify effective systems to enable accurate assessment and to ensure earlier diagnosis in high-risk groups.

Keywords

dementiaprimary careeducationbehavioral and psychological symptoms of dementiacommunity care
Type
Brief Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 30 , Issue 3: Issue Theme: Psychosocial Interventions for Dementia , March 2018 , pp. 425 - 430
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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