title: Practice patterns, beliefs, and perceived barriers to care regarding dementia: a report from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) national research network.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Given the increasing age of the US population, understanding how primary care is delivered surrounding dementia and physicians' perceived barriers and needs associated with this care is essential.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 29-item questionnaire was developed by project investigators and family physician consultants and mailed to a random sample of 1500 US members of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2008; 2 follow-up mailings were sent to nonrespondents. Physicians were queried about sociodemographic characteristics, practice patterns, and beliefs (including challenges, barriers, and needs) about care processes focusing on dementia among older patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 60%, with respondents statistically comparable (P > .05) to the American Academy of Family Physicians physician population. Among physicians, 93% screen and/or conduct diagnostic evaluations for dementia in older patients, whereas 91% provide ongoing primary care for patients with dementia whether or not they screen for or diagnose dementia. Forty percent of physicians refer some patients with suspected dementia to other providers (primarily neurologists) to verify diagnosis, for comanagement, or both. Factors affecting the diagnosis of dementia and the delivery of dementia care included patient behavior challenges (aggressiveness, restlessness, paranoia, wandering); comorbidities (falls, delirium, adverse medication reactions, urinary incontinence); caregiver challenges (fatigue, planning for patient's institutional placement, anger); and structural barriers (clinician time, time required for screening, limited treatment options). Tools needed to provide enhanced dementia care included better assessment tools, community resources, and diagnostic and screening tools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Family physicians are highly involved in the assessment and routine care of patients with suspected dementia or diagnosed with dementia, although a relative few are not. This is despite the recognized challenges physicians encounter in the assessment and care processes.
authors.affiliation: the AAFP National Research Network, Leawood, KS; the Department of Sociology, University of Missouri, Kansas City; the Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH; the Department of Family Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora; and the Department of Medical Education and Research, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT.
authors.forename: Thomas V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Loskutova
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Galliher
authors.forename: Gregg A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Warshaw
authors.forename: Letoynia J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Coombs
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Staton
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huff
authors.forename: Wilson D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Pace
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: Dementia; Practice-based Research; Primary Health Care