BACKGROUND: Demographic changes indicating a general aging of the population suggest that the key role of general practitioners (GPs) in the diagnosis and management of dementia becomes more salient. The encouragement of GPs to collaborate with specialists is one chance to support GPs in performing a variety of functions associated with the diagnosis and management of dementia. METHOD: We used a questionnaire to investigate the role of referrals in diagnosing dementia at the primary care level and variables potentially influencing the referral behavior of German GPs (n = 563). RESULTS: Only 31% of the GPs stated that the diagnosis of dementia was made predominantly in the context of referral to a specialist. The chance that referrals were made was increased for those GPs who entertained extensive cooperative relationships with self-help groups, psychologists, or the "Alzheimer Society"/"Brain League" (odds ratio [OR] 1.74) and for those GPs who perceived a great preparedness on the part of the relatives of the patient to comply with a referral (OR 2.29) as well as who noticed a great readiness among specialists to accept patients for the diagnosis of dementia (OR 2.55). GPs whose therapeutic orientation was shaped by further training and scientific literature were more likely to refer (OR 3.54). DISCUSSION: Enhancing the liaison between GPs and specialist physicians by improving the psychogeriatric competence of GPs as well as the connection to nonmedical services is discussed.
BACKGROUND: Demographic changes indicating a general aging of the population suggest that the key role of general practitioners (GPs) in the diagnosis and management of dementia becomes more salient. The encouragement of GPs to collaborate with specialists is one chance to support GPs in performing a variety of functions associated with the diagnosis and management of dementia. METHOD: We used a questionnaire to investigate the role of referrals in diagnosing dementia at the primary care level and variables potentially influencing the referral behavior of German GPs (n = 563). RESULTS: Only 31% of the GPs stated that the diagnosis of dementia was made predominantly in the context of referral to a specialist. The chance that referrals were made was increased for those GPs who entertained extensive cooperative relationships with self-help groups, psychologists, or the "Alzheimer Society"/"Brain League" (odds ratio [OR] 1.74) and for those GPs who perceived a great preparedness on the part of the relatives of the patient to comply with a referral (OR 2.29) as well as who noticed a great readiness among specialists to accept patients for the diagnosis of dementia (OR 2.55). GPs whose therapeutic orientation was shaped by further training and scientific literature were more likely to refer (OR 3.54). DISCUSSION: Enhancing the liaison between GPs and specialist physicians by improving the psychogeriatric competence of GPs as well as the connection to nonmedical services is discussed.
Authors: Carolin Donath; Elmar Grässel; Maria Grossfeld-Schmitz; Petra Menn; Jörg Lauterberg; Sonja Wunder; Peter Marx; Stephan Ruckdäschel; Hilmar Mehlig; Rolf Holle Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2010-11-18 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Hendrik van den Bussche; Birgitt Wiese; Daniela Koller; Marion Eisele; Hanna Kaduszkiewicz; Wolfgang Maier; Gerd Glaeske; Susanne Steinmann; Karl Wegscheider; Gerhard Schön Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2011-06-16 Impact factor: 2.655