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Jochen René Thyrian,1,* Tilly Eichler,1,* Andrea Pooch,1 Kerstin Albuerne,1 Adina Dreier,2 Bernhard Michalowsky,1 Diana Wucherer,1 Wolfgang Hoffmann1,2 1German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Greifswald, WG Interventional Health Care Research, Greifswald, 2Department of Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Institute for Community Medicine, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: There is evidence about the benefits of early detection of dementia and subsequent provision of adequate treatment and care. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the acceptance of detection and intervention procedures. These analyses describe the attitudes of general physicians [GPs] toward 1) dementia in general, 2) systematic detection of people with dementia, and 3) an intervention approach after they have experienced both. Comparisons are made based on experience with systematic screening and dementia-specific intervention. Methods: Postal, cross-sectional survey to all n=1,252 GPs in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. A subsample was drawn based on participation in the randomized, controlled, prospective intervention DelpHi-MV trial (Dementia: life- and person-centered help in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). In this trial, systematic screening is implemented and an intervention group receives support through dementia care management (DCM). GPs were categorized into either GPs with DCM and systematic screening (DCM-GP), GPs with systematic screening only (DelpHi-GP), or GPs not participating in the trial. Data from n=257 GPs were available. Attitudes toward dementia were assessed using a validated questionnaire. Results: There was strong agreement toward the helpfulness of implementing a brief cognitive screening test (89.9% agreed). Approximately two-thirds of the respondents indicated that they had identified at least some patients as being cognitively impaired for the first time. The majority of the respondents indicated agreement toward DCM. It was described as supportive and helpful. The qualified nurses were perceived as competent in dementia care and 79.3% would like to be supported with DCM. Attitudes toward dementia are positive and do not differ between groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that early recognition and DCM is highly appreciated by GPs and is considered feasible or wanted to be implemented in routine care. Keywords: dementia care management, screening, general physician, primary care, implementation

The term "potentially inadequate medication" (PIM) describes medications or active substances that should not be prescribed to older persons because of their adverse effects profile. Such relative contraindications should always be considered in the overall context and in view of comorbidities and further medications. The PRISCUS 2.0 list was published recently--a revised version of a PIM list for the German pharmaceutical market (1). When considering the number of older patients in the healthcare system for whom these medications may pose risks, this topic is more topical than ever. Thus far only few published data exist on the prevalence of PIMs and their development as well as on the PIM substances most commonly prescribed in primary care in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: Current research suggests that dementia care management (DCM) can decrease burden and associated health impairments of caregivers. The objective of this secondary analysis is to investigate the impact of DCM on multifaceted caregivers’ burden dimensions by differentiating between objective and subjective burden. Methods: A sample of n = 317 dyads of caregivers and community-dwelling people with dementia (PwD) participated in a general practitioner-based, cluster-randomized intervention trial (Identifier:NCT01401582) with two arms and comprehensive data assessment at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Data provided by the caregiver included an inventory with 88 items in 20 different dimensions. Results: Caregivers in the intervention ‘DCM’ group showed decreased caregiver burden, especially in caregivers’ objective burden due to caring (i.e. emotional support), caregivers’ subjective burden due to behavior change (i.e. cognition, aggression and resistance, depression, late symptoms) and caregivers’ subjective burden due to perceived conflicts between needs and responsibilities to care (i.e. financial losses) compared to caregivers in the control ‘care as usual’ group, which showed significant increased caregiver burden after 12 months. Conclusion: Our findings support evidence for the effectiveness of DCM to lower family dementia caregivers' burden in multifaceted dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Nervenarzt is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Older people have a higher risk of drug-related problems (DRPs). However, little is known about the prevalence of DRPs in community-dwelling people who screened positive for dementia. Our study aimed to determine (1) the prevalence and types of DRPs and (2) the socio-demographic and clinical variables associated with DRPs in people screened positive for dementia in primary care.Methods: The Dementia: life- and person-centered help in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (DelpHi-MV) study is a general practitioner (GP)-based cluster-randomized controlled intervention study to implement and evaluate an innovative concept of collaborative dementia care management in the primary care setting in Germany. Medication reviews of 446 study participants were conducted by pharmacists based on a comprehensive baseline assessment that included a computer-based home medication assessment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01401582.Results: A total of 1,077 DRPs were documented. In 414 study participants (93%), at least one DRP was detected by a pharmacist. The most frequent DRPs were administration and compliance problems (60%), drug interactions (17%), and problems with inappropriate drug choice (15%). The number of DRPs was significantly associated with the total number of drugs taken and with a formal diagnosis of a mental or behavioral disorder.Conclusions: Degree of cognitive impairment (MMSE defined) and formal diagnosis of dementia were not risk factors for an increased number of DRPs. However, the total number of drug taken and the presence of a diagnosis of mental and behavioral disorders were associated with an increased total number of DRPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]