Diagnostic evaluation of dementia in the secondary health care sector.
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord
; 27(6): 534-42, 2009.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19506375
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
We conducted a nationwide registry-based study of the quality of diagnostic evaluation for dementia in the secondary health care sector.METHOD:
Two hundred patients were randomly selected from the patient population (4,682 patients) registered for the first time with a dementia diagnosis in the nationwide hospital registries during the last 6 months of 2003. Through medical record review, we evaluated the completeness of the work-up on which the dementia diagnosis was based, using evidence-based dementia guidelines as reference standards.RESULTS:
Satisfactory or acceptable completion of the basic dementia work-up was documented in 51.3% of the patients. Only 11.5% of those with unsatisfactory work-up were referred to follow-up investigations. Dementia syndrome was confirmed in 88.5% of the cases, but correct subtypes were diagnosed in only 35.1%.CONCLUSION:
The adherence to clinical guidelines concerning dementia work-up is inadequate in the secondary health care sector. Our findings call for improvement in the organization of clinical dementia care, for education of specialists and for changes in attitude towards making a diagnosis of dementia.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Delivery of Health Care
/
Dementia
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Guideline
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord
Journal subject:
GERIATRIA
/
NEUROLOGIA
/
PSIQUIATRIA
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Denmark