100 years after Alzheimer: contemporary neurology practice assessment of referrals for dementia.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of dementia is placing an increased burden on specialists.


METHODS
Canadian neurologists responded to a structured questionnaire to assess reasons for referral and services provided as well as to compare the neurologists' perceptions of their practice characteristics against cases seen over a 3-month period.


RESULTS
The audit confirmed the participants' perception that family practitioners are the main referral source (358/453, 79%). Sixty-two percent of patients had undergone clinical investigation for dementia prior to being seen by the neurologist; 39% (177/453) were on pharmacotherapy at the time of referral, 68% were initiated on pharmacotherapy by the neurologist. A fifth of the referrals did not meet clinical criteria for dementia, which may be directly related to the prevalence of prior workup that did not include mental status testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurologists currently treat patients referred for dementia who may already have been adequately evaluated and treated by primary care providers.
Chow
Tiffany W
TW
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Binder
Carin
C
Smyth
Steven
S
Cohen
Sharon
S
Robillard
Alain
A
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009462:Neurology / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires