OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and skills of general practitioners in Quebec with respect to persons with dementia. DESIGN: A questionnaire containing 47 multiple-choice questions on aptitude and nine questions on practice profiles and demographics. SETTING: Province of Quebec. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve hundred general practitioners selected randomly. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Performance with respect to the questionnaire's four objectives: to rate background knowledge, to evaluate physicians' knowledge of the assessment and treatment of dementia, to assess follow-up, and to assess interpersonal skills. RESULTS: Average performance on the questionnaire was 64.7%, with a standard deviation of 11.79%. Performance did not differ markedly from one objective to the next. Most respondents were male (61.6%), working in urban settings (61.7%). Most (72.5%) were between 25 and 44 years, and 44.7% had between 6 and 15 years' experience. About half (44.7%) belonged to group practices, 43.8% worked in acute care hospitals, and 20.6% worked in extended care hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Quebec general practitioners have average ability to care for patients with dementia. Continuing education should focus on increasing physicians' knowledge of dementia, especially for those with the lowest scores; physicians 55 years and older, those practising alone, and those who spend less than 60% of their practice time with elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and skills of general practitioners in Quebec with respect to persons with dementia. DESIGN: A questionnaire containing 47 multiple-choice questions on aptitude and nine questions on practice profiles and demographics. SETTING: Province of Quebec. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve hundred general practitioners selected randomly. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Performance with respect to the questionnaire's four objectives: to rate background knowledge, to evaluate physicians' knowledge of the assessment and treatment of dementia, to assess follow-up, and to assess interpersonal skills. RESULTS: Average performance on the questionnaire was 64.7%, with a standard deviation of 11.79%. Performance did not differ markedly from one objective to the next. Most respondents were male (61.6%), working in urban settings (61.7%). Most (72.5%) were between 25 and 44 years, and 44.7% had between 6 and 15 years' experience. About half (44.7%) belonged to group practices, 43.8% worked in acute care hospitals, and 20.6% worked in extended care hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Quebec general practitioners have average ability to care for patients with dementia. Continuing education should focus on increasing physicians' knowledge of dementia, especially for those with the lowest scores; physicians 55 years and older, those practising alone, and those who spend less than 60% of their practice time with elderly patients.