Authors: Lena Sannemann, Theresa Müller, Lisa Waterink, Marissa D. Zwan, Anders Wimo, Erik Stomrud, Susana Pino, Jordi Arrufat Espinosa, Octavio Rodriguez‐Gomez, Alba Benaque, Jaka Bon, Amanda Dron, Daniel Ferreira, Gunilla Johansson, Annette Dumas, Jean Georges, Milica G. Kramberger, Pieter Jelle Visser, Bengt Winblad, Laura Campo, Mercè Boada, Frank Jessen,
Published: 2020-12-07
DOI: 10.1002/alz.040357
Source: Full article
AbstractBackgroundOver the last decade, research efforts have facilitated early detection of dementia and underlying diseases, such as Alzheimer disease (AD). There is growing evidence for the benefits of early diagnosis, including access to education, available treatment and support. On the other hand, the lack of a cure and the fear to stigmatize the patient are among the arguments that speak against early disclosure of a diagnosis. General Practitioners (GPs) are often the first contact person when cognitive changes arrive, and they play a key role in early identification of the disease. Based on the experiences working with GPs as part of the multinational “Models of Patient Engagement for Alzheimer's Disease” (MOPEAD) project, an EU‐funded public‐private study within the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI‐2) research agenda, we aimed to assess the current attitude of GPs towards early and pre‐dementia diagnosis for AD at the stage of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or very mild dementia.MethodWe designed a survey to measure the current attitude of GPs towards early and pre‐dementia diagnosis of AD at the MOPEAD sites in five European countries (Germany, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands). The questionnaire covered several topics, including attitude towards early diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, resources and opinion on present and future treatment options. Chi‐square tests were carried out to analyze differences among countries.Result343 GPs completed the survey. In total, 74% of GPs indicated that they considered an early diagnosis of value. However, only 44% of GPs felt confident in handling the diagnostic procedures for very early dementia and MCI. Currently available pharmacological treatments were mostly regarded as having low benefit, while 68% considered non‐pharmacological treatment options as “beneficial and not sufficiently available”. There were country‐specific differences in the GPs’ perception of monetary resources (X