Table 1: FPs agreeing with the
questionnaire items regarding diagnosis and clinical management of dementia (N
= 80).
|
Questionnaire items |
%
of participants agreeing (Number of cases) |
|
Knowledge |
|
|
1. I regularly keep up to date with the Canadian
Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of dementia (CCCDTD)
guidelines. |
36.2
(29) |
|
Available
resources |
|
|
2. In my practice
setting, I have at my disposal good community services for patients living at
home. |
28.8
(23) |
|
3. In my practice setting, I have at my disposal
good community services for patients living at home for which the waiting
time is acceptable. |
21.2 (17) |
|
4. In my practice
setting, I have at my disposal good support services for carers of patients. |
18.8
(15) |
|
5. In my practice setting, I have at my disposal
good support services for carers of patients for which the waiting time is
acceptable. |
12.5 (10) |
|
Screening
practices |
|
|
6. I evaluate
patients with dementia when the patient seems to be forgetful. |
95 (76) |
|
7. I evaluate
patients with dementia when the patient complains of forgetfulness. |
95
(76) |
|
8. I evaluate
patients with dementia when a patient’s relative thinks the patient might
have dementia. |
98.8 (79) |
|
9. I am familiar
with dementia diagnosis criteria. |
86.2
(69) |
|
Skills |
|
|
10. I feel
confident that I have adequate skills to develop an adequate management plan
for patients. |
72.5
(58) |
|
11. I feel
confident that I have adequate skills to educate patients and their families. |
71.2 (57) |
|
Referrals to
specialists |
|
|
12. I generally
refer patients to a specialist for the management/treatment of dementia. |
43.8 (35) |
|
13. I generally
refer patients to a specialist for the evaluation of dementia. |
40.0
(32) |
|
Facilitating
attitudes |
|
|
14. Much can be
done to improve the quality of life of caregivers. |
87.5
(70) |
|
15. Much can be
done to improve the quality of life of patients. |
87.5 (70) |
|
16. It is
important to diagnose dementia early on in its course. |
85.0
(68) |
|
17. Families
would rather be told about their relative’s dementia diagnosis as soon as possible. |
78.8 (63) |
|
18. Appropriate
interventions can slow down the progression of dementia. |
75.5
(62) |
|
Unfavorable
attitudes |
|
|
19. The
management of dementia is more often frustrating than rewarding. |
25.0
(20) |
|
20. Diagnostic
criteria are less important than my intuition in the diagnosis of dementia. |
16.2 (13) |
|
21. Providing a
diagnosis is usually more harmful than helpful. |
13.8
(11) |
|
22. As long as
effective treatment is absent, diagnosing dementia has no priority. |
6.2 (5) |
|
23. Family
physicians have a very limited role to play in the care of patients. |
3.8
(3) |