title: The benefits of implementing a computerized intervention-management-system (IMS) on delivering integrated dementia care in the primary care setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A computerized Intervention-Management-System (IMS) has been developed and implemented to facilitate dementia care management. IMS is a rule-based expert decision support system that matches individual patient characteristics to a computerized knowledge base. One of the most important functionalities of IMS is to support the compilation of the individual intervention plan by systematically identifying unmet needs and suggesting the corresponding specific interventions for recommendation to the general practitioner (GP). The present analysis aimed to determine if the implementation of IMS improves the identification of unmet needs and the recommendation of adequate specific interventions. In addition, the feasibility and acceptability of the IMS were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Delphi-MV is an on-going GP-based, cluster-randomized, controlled intervention trial to implement and evaluate a collaborative dementia care management program for community-dwelling PWDs and their caregivers. IMS was developed and implemented over the course of the DelpHi-trial. The identified unmet needs and the interventions that were recommended to the GP before and after the implementation of IMS were compared. To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the IMS, a survey was conducted among the current users of IMS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the implementation of IMS, the number of specific interventions recommended to the GP increased by 85%. Our findings provide evidence that IMS improves the systematic identification of unmet needs and the subsequent recommendation of interventions to address these needs. The users evaluated IMS as very helpful and would like to use it for their future work. However, the usability could be further improved.
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstrasse 1-2,Greifswald D-17489,Germany.
authors.forename: Tilly
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstrasse 1-2,Greifswald D-17489,Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen René
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Thyrian
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Medicine,Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health,University Medicine Greifswald,Ellernholzstrasse 1-2,Greifswald D-17487,Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fredrich
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstrasse 1-2,Greifswald D-17489,Germany.
authors.forename: Leonore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Köhler
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstrasse 1-2,Greifswald D-17489,Germany.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wucherer
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstrasse 1-2,Greifswald D-17489,Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Michalowsky
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Medicine,Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health,University Medicine Greifswald,Ellernholzstrasse 1-2,Greifswald D-17487,Germany.
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dreier
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstrasse 1-2,Greifswald D-17489,Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003660:Decision Support Systems, Management; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003710:Demography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors