F Mahieux1, M Herr2, J Ankri3. 1. Centre de Gérontologie, Hôpital Sainte Périne, AP-HP, 75016Paris, France. Electronic address: florence.mahieux@spr.aphp.fr. 2. Département Hospitalier d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Hôpital Sainte Périne, AP-HP, 75016 Paris, France; INSERM, U1168, VIMA: Aging and Chronic Diseases. Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, Villejuif 94807, France; Université de Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, UMR-S 1168, 78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France. 3. Centre de Gérontologie, Hôpital Sainte Périne, AP-HP, 75016Paris, France; Département Hospitalier d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Hôpital Sainte Périne, AP-HP, 75016 Paris, France; INSERM, U1168, VIMA: Aging and Chronic Diseases. Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, Villejuif 94807, France; Université de Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, UMR-S 1168, 78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This report shares and discusses the collected personal preferences of patients attending a memory clinic for disclosure of a potential Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. METHODS: In this prospective study of outpatients attending a single memory clinic over a 6-year period (March 2004-October 2010), doctors collected their patients' wishes (willingness to be informed, motivation, presence of the family) through a standardized procedure. RESULTS: Of the 1005 patients questioned throughout the study period-with a final diagnosis of dementia for 480 of them-858 (85.3%) wished to be informed of an AD diagnosis, whereas 72 (7.2%) did not and 75 (7.5%) were not sure. Older age and reduced cognitive functioning were independently associated with a preference to not be informed of a potential AD diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence of the willingness of most patients to know the truth vis-à-vis AD and also offers some insight into their motivations.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This report shares and discusses the collected personal preferences of patients attending a memory clinic for disclosure of a potential Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. METHODS: In this prospective study of outpatients attending a single memory clinic over a 6-year period (March 2004-October 2010), doctors collected their patients' wishes (willingness to be informed, motivation, presence of the family) through a standardized procedure. RESULTS: Of the 1005 patients questioned throughout the study period-with a final diagnosis of dementia for 480 of them-858 (85.3%) wished to be informed of an AD diagnosis, whereas 72 (7.2%) did not and 75 (7.5%) were not sure. Older age and reduced cognitive functioning were independently associated with a preference to not be informed of a potential AD diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence of the willingness of most patients to know the truth vis-à-vis AD and also offers some insight into their motivations.
Authors: Guerry M Peavy; Cecily W Jenkins; Emily A Little; Christina Gigliotti; Amanda Calcetas; Steven D Edland; James B Brewer; Douglas Galasko; David P Salmon Journal: Alzheimers Res Ther Date: 2020-06-30 Impact factor: 6.982