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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Sharing a diagnosis of dementia
— learning from the patient perspective | | Author(s) | H Wilkinson, A J Milne |
| Journal title | Aging & Mental Health, vol 7, no 4, July 2003 |
| Pages | pp 300-307 |
| Source | http://www.tandfonline.com |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Patients ; Communication ; General practitioners ; Attitude ; Social surveys. |
| Annotation | The pivotal role of the general practitioner (GP) in the early identification and subsequent management of dementia has long been recognised. However, whilst diagnostic practice is improving, the knowledge gained from research exploring the patient perspective is insufficiently absorbed. This paper presents evidence from the two perspectives of the diagnostic relationship: the views of GPs around giving a diagnosis, and the views of patients on receiving one. The authors draw on their own projects - as well as wider research - in suggesting ways that diagnostic practice can be improved by taking account of the patient perspective. The learning can be distilled around the dimensions of the process, approach and nature of disclosure with evidence particularly challenging the "myths" held by many GPs around the value of early diagnoses. While much work still needs to be done to incorporate the patient perspective in dementia care, there is clear evidence that patient-oriented research has much to offer the development of disclosure practice in primary care to the benefit of patients, their families and GPs. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-030806228 A |
| Classmark | EA: LK7: LF: U: QT6: DP: 3F |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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