title: Have Quality and Outcomes Framework Depression Indicators changed referrals from primary care to a dedicated memory clinic?
abstract: The proportion of patients referred from primary care to dedicated dementia clinics who receive a final diagnosis of dementia is low. Many of these non-demented patients may have depressive disorders, since depression is the most common differential diagnosis of dementia. The UK general practitioner (GP) General Medical Services contract, introduced in April 2006, included a Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) with indicators related to depression. We investigated whether introduction of the QOF Depression Indicators changed the pattern of referrals from primary care to a dedicated dementia clinic. The results indicated that the null hypothesis could not be rejected.
authors.affiliation: General Practitioner, Watledge Surgery, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fearn
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Larner