Comparing knowledge and attitudes to dementia care in Brazilian and UK GPs to guide future decisions about educational interventions.

Background: Dementia training for Brazilian general practitioners (GPs) is underdeveloped. We investigated knowledge and attitudes to dementia management among Brazilian GPs and compared these with previous UK findings to inform future decisions about how training is structured.Methods: A total of 115 Brazilian GPs were asked to complete a Portuguese translation of a questionnaire previously used in the UK. This comprised a 14-item multiple-choice knowledge quiz, and a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire assessing attitudes across 10 dementia management domains. Exploratory factorial analysis was conducted for attitudes.Results: Attitudes toward dementia demonstrated the same underlying factor structure, "heartsink" and "heartfelt" factors, in Brazil as in previous UK studies, explaining 61.6% of variance in responses. Knowledge scores were negatively correlated with heartfelt and heartsink factors.Conclusions: Greater knowledge about dementia was associated with some pessimism about dementia care. The similarity in the structure of attitudes toward dementia management between Brazilian and UK GPs provides a starting point for shared educational approaches targeting attitudes.

Knowledge and attitudes in dementia held by general practitioners in the primary care setting of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Despite alarming evidence on dementia prevalence, the condition is still underdiagnosed by general practitioners (GPs) in primary care. Early detection of the disease is beneficial for patients and relatives, who should be provided comprehensive guidance on dealing with dementia complications, covering medical, family and social aspects, thereby providing an opportunity to plan for the future. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of and attitudes toward dementia held by GPs from a city in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil. METHODS: A non-randomized intervention study was conducted involving six lectures about dementia. Before and after the intervention, the participating physicians completed two quizzes about knowledge of and attitudes towards dementia. The study was carried out in the primary care services of the town and a total of 34 GPs participated in the study. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 33.9 (±10.2) years and the majority (76.5%) of the sample had not undertaken medical residency training. The mean number of correct answers on the Knowledge Quiz about dementia before and after the training intervention was 59.6 and 71.2% (p<0.001), respectively. The comparison of the mean responses on the Attitude Quiz revealed no statistically significant difference between the two applications of the instrument, before and after intervention (p=0.059). CONCLUSIONS: More training for GPs on dementia should be provided.

Mild cognitive impairment and progression to dementia of Alzheimer's disease.

The increase in life expectancy in the Brazilian population raises questions about the preparation of the public health system in identifying elderly patients with signs of cognitive impairment. Currently, as a consequence of the long duration of preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease, efforts of early detection have been emphasized. Clinical dementia presents an important impact on the individual's caregivers, family, society and economy. Identifying individuals who already have some cognitive impairment, despite remaining functional, as well as analyzing associated comorbidities, constitutes an opportunity to analyze possibilities for future interventions. Dementias are clinical conditions that impose a burden on the health system with its high costs, whereas the identification of individuals with cognitive impairment without dementia can aid patients and their families to plan the future and mitigate costs. This narrative revision can provide general practitioners with more information on the subject.

Knowledge and attitudes towards dementia in a sample of medical residents from a university-hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

An estimated 61% of the 24.3 million people diagnosed with dementia worldwide live in underdeveloped countries, including Brazil, where a public healthcare system covers the majority of the population. This care is usually provided by General Practitioners (GP) and in Brazil many doctors recently graduated from medical school and residents of different medical specialties practice as GPs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and attitudes about dementia in a sample of Brazilian medical residents from a university-hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 152 Brazilian medical residents participated in the study. Participants answered a "Knowledge Quiz" (KQ) and "Attitude Quiz" (AQ) about dementia issues, transculturally adapted for use in Brazilian physicians. A descriptive analysis of the correct answers on knowledge and of the attitude aspects was performed. RESULTS: The medical residents showed poor knowledge (<50%) about dementia prevalence and incidence and a good knowledge on disease management and diagnosis. Participants tended to be optimistic about caring for demented patients. CONCLUSION: In this study, it is likely that the physicians' good knowledge about dementia issues is the reason for their optimism dealing with demented patients.

Estima-se que 61% dos 24,3 milhões de pessoas diagnosticadas com demência no mundo vivem em países subdesenvolvidos, incluindo o Brasil, onde o sistema público de saúde (SUS) abrange a maioria da população. Os atendimentos médicos no SUS são realizados, habitualmente, por médicos generalistas. No Brasil, muitos médicos, logo após a graduação e residentes de diferentes especialidades médicas trabalham como médicos generalistas. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o conhecimento e as atitudes sobre demência em uma amostra de médicos residentes brasileiros de um hospital universitário em São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: 152 médicos residentes participaram do estudo respondendo a um instrumento sobre conhecimentos e atitudes sobre demências que havia sido adaptado transculturalmente para ser usado no Brasil. Uma análise descritiva das respostas corretas sobre conhecimentos e atitudes foi realizada. RESULTADOS: Os médicos residentes mostraram pouco conhecimento (<50%) sobre a prevalência e incidência de demência e maior conhecimento em gerenciamento e diagnóstico. Os profissionais tenderam a ser otimistas sobre como cuidar de pacientes com demência. CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo, provavelmente, o bom conhecimento sobre algumas questões de demência é a razão para esses médicos sentirem-se mais otimistas com o cuidado aos pacientes com demência.

Impact of hospitalization on the functional capacity of the elderly: A cohort study / Impacto da hospitalização na funcionalidade de idosos: estudo de coorte

OBJECTIVE: To verify the trajectory of the functional capacity of elderly persons hospitalized due to clinical conditions in a university hospital. METHOD: A descriptive, prospective cohort study was conducted between 2015 and 2016. Elderly patients admitted to the Hospital das Clínicas of Botucatu Medical School (Unesp), Brazil, were evaluated for the functional assessment of basic activities of daily living (BADL) using the Katz scale, nutritional status (body mass index (BMI)) and presence of the Frailty Syndrome (FS) (Fried criteria). A description of the trajectory of functional capacity was carried out at four times: 15 days before admission (T0), at admission (T1), at hospital discharge (T2) and 30 days after discharge (T3). RESULTS: 99 elderly people with a mean age of 74 (+7.35) years, 59.6% of whom were male, were evaluated. Of these, 81.8% presented functional independence at T0, 45.5% at T1, 57.6% at T2 and 72.8% at T3. According to their functional trajectories, 28.2% of the elderly lost functional capacity between T0 and T3. There was an association between worsening of functional capacity between T0 and T3 and the FS (RR 4.56; 95% CI 1.70-12.26, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients have worse functional capacity at hospital discharge than before hospitalization. About 28.0% of the elderly had worse functional capacity 30 days after discharge than 15 days before admission. The elderly with Frailty Syndrome have a greater risk for worse functional capacity results 30 days after discharge.

OBJETIVO: Verificar a trajetória da funcionalidade em idosos hospitalizados por condições clínicas em hospital universitário. MÉTODO: Estudo descritivo, prospectivo, de coorte, realizado entre 2015 e 2016. Foram avaliados idosos internados no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - Unesp, quanto à funcionalidade por avaliação das atividades básicas de vida diária (ABVD) pela Escala de Katz, estado nutricional (índice de massa corporal-IMC) e presença de Síndrome da Fragilidade (SF) (critério de Fried). Realizada descrição da trajetória da funcionalidade em quatro momentos: 15 dias antes da internação (M0), na internação (M1), na alta hospitalar (M2) e 30 dias após a alta (M3). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 99 idosos com média de idade de 74 (+7,35) anos, 59,6% do sexo masculino. Da casuística 81,8% apresentavam independência funcional em M0; 45,5% no M1; 57,6% no M2 e 72,8% no M3. De acordo com as trajetórias da funcionalidade verificou-se que 28,2% dos idosos perderam função entre M0 e M3. Houve associação entre piora da funcionalidade entre M0 e M3 e SF (RR 4,56; IC 95% 1,70-12,26; p=0,003). CONCLUSÃO: Idosos apresentam pior funcionalidade na alta hospitalar quando comparada com o momento antes da internação. Cerca de 28,0% dos idosos apresentaram pior função 30 dias após a alta em relação a 15 dias antes da internação. Os idosos com Síndrome da Fragilidade apresentam maior risco para resultados funcionais piores após 30 dias da alta.

Mild cognitive impairment and progression to dementia of Alzheimer's disease / Comprometimento cognitivo leve e progressão para a demência da doença de Alzheimer

Summary The increase in life expectancy in the Brazilian population raises questions about the preparation of the public health system in identifying elderly patients with signs of cognitive impairment. Currently, as a consequence of the long duration of preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease, efforts of early detection have been emphasized. Clinical dementia presents an important impact on the individual's caregivers, family, society and economy. Identifying individuals who already have some cognitive impairment, despite remaining functional, as well as analyzing associated comorbidities, constitutes an opportunity to analyze possibilities for future interventions. Dementias are clinical conditions that impose a burden on the health system with its high costs, whereas the identification of individuals with cognitive impairment without dementia can aid patients and their families to plan the future and mitigate costs. This narrative revision can provide general practitioners with more information on the subject.

Resumo O aumento da expectativa de vida da população brasileira faz surgir questões sobre o preparo do sistema de saúde pública na identificação de pacientes idosos com sinais de alteração cognitiva. Atualmente, como consequência da longa duração da fase pré-clínica da doença de Alzheimer (DA), existe maior ênfase sobre a detecção precoce. A demência apresenta um importante impacto sobre a família, os cuidadores, a sociedade e a economia. Identificar indivíduos que já apresentam algum comprometimento cognitivo, embora eles mantenham a funcionalidade, bem como analisar as comorbidades associadas constituem oportunidades para direcionar futuras intervenções. Demências são doenças que impõem sobrecarga ao sistema público de saúde, com altos custos. A identificação de indivíduos com alteração cognitiva sem demência pode adicionar planejamentos futuros por parte do próprio doente, da sua família e dos cuidadores, resultando em menor sobrecarga física e emocional para todos os envolvidos. Esta revisão narrativa tem como objetivo ajudar os clínicos gerais a atuar na detecção dos idosos que se encontram em risco de desenvolver demência.

Knowledge and attitudes towards dementia in a sample of medical residents from a university-hospital in São Paulo, Brazil / Conhecimentos e atitudes sobre demência por parte de uma amostra de residentes de um hospital universitário de São Paulo, Brasil

ABSTRACT. An estimated 61% of the 24.3 million people diagnosed with dementia worldwide live in underdeveloped countries, including Brazil, where a public healthcare system covers the majority of the population. This care is usually provided by General Practitioners (GP) and in Brazil many doctors recently graduated from medical school and residents of different medical specialties practice as GPs. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and attitudes about dementia in a sample of Brazilian medical residents from a university-hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A total of 152 Brazilian medical residents participated in the study. Participants answered a "Knowledge Quiz" (KQ) and "Attitude Quiz" (AQ) about dementia issues, transculturally adapted for use in Brazilian physicians. A descriptive analysis of the correct answers on knowledge and of the attitude aspects was performed. Results: The medical residents showed poor knowledge (<50%) about dementia prevalence and incidence and a good knowledge on disease management and diagnosis. Participants tended to be optimistic about caring for demented patients. Conclusion: In this study, it is likely that the physicians' good knowledge about dementia issues is the reason for their optimism dealing with demented patients.

RESUMO. Estima-se que 61% dos 24,3 milhões de pessoas diagnosticadas com demência no mundo vivem em países subdesenvolvidos, incluindo o Brasil, onde o sistema público de saúde (SUS) abrange a maioria da população. Os atendimentos médicos no SUS são realizados, habitualmente, por médicos generalistas. No Brasil, muitos médicos, logo após a graduação e residentes de diferentes especialidades médicas trabalham como médicos generalistas. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o conhecimento e as atitudes sobre demência em uma amostra de médicos residentes brasileiros de um hospital universitário em São Paulo, Brasil. Métodos: 152 médicos residentes participaram do estudo respondendo a um instrumento sobre conhecimentos e atitudes sobre demências que havia sido adaptado transculturalmente para ser usado no Brasil. Uma análise descritiva das respostas corretas sobre conhecimentos e atitudes foi realizada. Resultados: Os médicos residentes mostraram pouco conhecimento (<50%) sobre a prevalência e incidência de demência e maior conhecimento em gerenciamento e diagnóstico. Os profissionais tenderam a ser otimistas sobre como cuidar de pacientes com demência. Conclusão: Neste estudo, provavelmente, o bom conhecimento sobre algumas questões de demência é a razão para esses médicos sentirem-se mais otimistas com o cuidado aos pacientes com demência.