title: Practices in diagnosis, disclosure and pharmacotherapeutic management of dementia by general practitioners--a national survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the practice patterns of general practitioners (GPs) for the diagnosis, disclosure and pharmacological management of individuals with dementia. We also investigated whether the number of years working in general practice is a determinant factor associated with the responses obtained.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national survey was sent to all registered GPs in the Maltese islands. The return rate was 54.2% with the majority of respondents having 15 years or more working experience in general practice. Chi-square analysis of variance was used to determine any relationship effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the majority of GPs indicated lack of competence in diagnosing dementia, only a small percentage showed a preference towards specialist referral. Lack of training was mostly envisaged by physicians with the least number of years in general practice. Significant differences in pharmacotherapeutic prescribing were noted depending on the stage of disease progression and the number of years working as a GP. Disease disclosure was not routinely carried out even though GPs were aware of the fact that disclosure may help individuals with dementia and their caregivers or relatives with future planning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings show notable shortcomings in various aspects of dementia management by GPs. This highlights the need of providing continued educational support and training opportunities to enhance not only GPs' clinical competence, but also their role as key players in providing quality support to individuals with dementia in the primary care setting.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery , University of Malta , Msida , Malta.
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Caruana-Pulpan
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scerri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D030881:Disclosure / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008319:Malta; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data