Centre for Policy on Ageing



What do general practitioners tell people with dementia and their families about the condition? — a survey of experience in Scotland
Author(s)	Murna Downs, Richard Clibbens, Catherine Rae
Journal title	Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice, vol 1, no 1, February 2002
Pages	pp 47-58
Keywords	Dementia ; General practitioners ; Communication ; Diagnosis ; The Family ; Social surveys ; Scotland.
Annotation	Empirical evidence suggests that general practitioners (GPs) are reluctant to disclose diagnosis to a person with dementia. To date, little research has examined what GPs tell their patients and their families. The study reported relies on data gathered from an opportunistic sample of 114 GPs attending a training course to care for people with dementia. Findings reveal a disparity between what GPs tell the family and the person. People with dementia tend to be given information about the symptoms, and the cause is described predominantly as part of ageing. Family members are given information about symptoms, cause, prognosis, and available supports. Best practice regarding diagnosis disclosure to people with dementia needs to be established. This includes what people with dementia are told, how they are told, and what supports are made available to those who have been told. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-020624219 A
Classmark	EA: QT6: U: LK7: SJ: 3F: 9A
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.