TY - JOUR

T1 - Use of preventive home visits by general practitioners in patients diagnosed with dementia

AU - Orup Larsen, Anne Sofie

AU - Kristensen, Troels

AU - Lykkegaard, Jesper

AU - Waldorff, Frans Boch

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of dementia is estimated to increase due to a growing elderly population. Patients with dementia are vulnerable as they are less likely to consult their general practitioner (GP). According to Danish guidelines, they are considered frail and in need of a proactive approach in the form of an annual preventive home visit (PHV). The aim of this study was to describe and analyse the use of PHVs among patients with dementia in general practice. METHODS: This was a quantitative descriptive quality assurance study of elderly patients (≥ 75 years) identified with dementia by their GP. During a four-week audit in 2015, 40 general practices registered all elderly patients who saw their GP or received a home visit, using a registration form addressing frailty characteristics. RESULTS: The study included 3,098 elderly patients among whom 214 had been identified with dementia. Patients with dementia received more PHVs than dementia-free patients. Even so, more than 60% of the patients with dementia had not received the recommended PHV within the past year. Walking distance < 100 m and > 1 chronic disease alongside dementia were associated with receiving a PHV. Substantial variation was found among the general practices with regard to conducting PHVs. CONCLUSIONS: GP’s adherence to guidelines for patients identified with dementia leaves room for improvement as a significant part of the patients had not received the annual PHV as recommended in the guidelines. Furthermore, substantial variation between general practices indicates that not all GPs need to improve to the same extent.

AB - INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of dementia is estimated to increase due to a growing elderly population. Patients with dementia are vulnerable as they are less likely to consult their general practitioner (GP). According to Danish guidelines, they are considered frail and in need of a proactive approach in the form of an annual preventive home visit (PHV). The aim of this study was to describe and analyse the use of PHVs among patients with dementia in general practice. METHODS: This was a quantitative descriptive quality assurance study of elderly patients (≥ 75 years) identified with dementia by their GP. During a four-week audit in 2015, 40 general practices registered all elderly patients who saw their GP or received a home visit, using a registration form addressing frailty characteristics. RESULTS: The study included 3,098 elderly patients among whom 214 had been identified with dementia. Patients with dementia received more PHVs than dementia-free patients. Even so, more than 60% of the patients with dementia had not received the recommended PHV within the past year. Walking distance < 100 m and > 1 chronic disease alongside dementia were associated with receiving a PHV. Substantial variation was found among the general practices with regard to conducting PHVs. CONCLUSIONS: GP’s adherence to guidelines for patients identified with dementia leaves room for improvement as a significant part of the patients had not received the annual PHV as recommended in the guidelines. Furthermore, substantial variation between general practices indicates that not all GPs need to improve to the same extent.

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30511635

AN - SCOPUS:85064240093

VL - 65

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

SN - 2245-1919

IS - 12

M1 - A5518

ER -