Rates of formal diagnosis of dementia in primary care: The effect of screening.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Screening could improve recognition of dementia in primary care. We sought to determine the effect of screening for dementia in primary care practices on the formal diagnosis rate; the distribution of differential diagnoses; and the factors associated with receiving a formal diagnosis.

Methods

The "Dementia: life- and person-centered help in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania" is an ongoing general practitioner (GP)-based, randomized, controlled intervention trial. A total of 4064 community dwelling patients (aged ≥70 years) were screened for dementia in 108 GP practices. Of these patients, 692 (17%) had positive screening results (DemTect score <9). Of these 692 patients, 406 (59%) provided informed consent. The analyses included the data from 243 patients with a comp

SUBMITTER: Eichler T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4876881 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature