title: Carers' experience of memory screening tests.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current evidence suggests that patients with dementia find memory tests humiliating and embarrassing. However, the knowledge concerning carers' experience of witnessing patients with dementia undergo memory screening has not been fully explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was to explore the experiences of relatives of patients with dementia witnessing memory-screening tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven relatives of patients with dementia were recruited from three memory clinics using a purposive sampling method. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was subjected to thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relatives appreciated the memory-screening tests as a diagnostic tool but the majority did not understand the questioning in the tests. Witnessing memory-screening tests generated anxiety in the relatives and they felt that memory screening tests were humiliating for patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A collaborative approach where the clinician, the patient and the relative(s) participate in the memory-screening tests is advised. Some relatives may benefit from counselling.
authors.affiliation: a Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, West Park Hospital , Darlington, Co. Durham , UK and.
authors.forename: Gbolagade S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Akintomide
authors.affiliation: b Lecturer in Disability Studies and Behavioural Science, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK.
authors.forename: Qulsom
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fazil
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Relatives; caregivers; cognitive tests; neuropsychological tests