Dementia diagnostics in primary care: a representative 8-year follow-up study in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Aim: To investigate whether primary-care physicians' competency regarding dementia diagnostics improved from 1993 to 2001.

Methods: In a representative follow-up survey 122 out of 170 (71.8%) family physicians (FPs) were randomly assigned to 2 written case samples presenting patients with slight memory impairment (case 1a: female vs.

Primary care physicians' attitudes related to cognition enhancers in early dementia: a representative eight-year follow-up study in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Objective: By means of a representative follow-up survey, we investigated changes in family physicians' (FPs) attitudes towards cognition enhancers in early dementia during 1993 and 2001.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-two FPs (response rate 71.8%) in Lower Saxony, Germany, were randomly assigned to one of two written case samples presenting a patient with cognitive decline suggestive of early Alzheimer's disease (DAT; case A: female patient vs case B: male patient).

[Physicians' competence regarding the early diagnosis of dementia: differences between family physicians and primary care neuropsychiatrists in Germany].

Objective: Are there any differences between family physicians (FP) and primary care neuropsychiatrists (NP) with regard to their diagnostic competence of early dementia?

Methods: Trained interviewers presented written case vignettes to 68 NP and 122 FP during a structured interview. The case history described an otherwise healthy 70 years old patient complaining about cognitive disturbances suggesting incipient dementia.

Results: The survey is representative with a high response rate (71.

Diagnosis of dementia in primary care: a representative survey of family physicians and neuropsychiatrists in Germany.

Aim: To measure the diagnostic competence of family physicians (FP) and neuropsychiatrists (NP) for moderate dementia.

Methods: Written case vignettes describing moderate dementia either of Alzheimer type or vascular type were randomized to a representative sample of 122 FP and 68 NP, corresponding to response rates of 71.8 and 67.

Early diagnosis of dementia in primary care: a representative eight-year follow-up study in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Objective: To investigate whether primary care competency in early diagnosis of dementia might have changed during 1993 and 2001.

Method: By means of a representative follow-up survey 122 out of 170 (71.8%) family physicians (FPs) in Lower Saxony, Germany, were randomly assigned to two written case samples presenting a patient with mild cognitive impairment (case 1a vs.