The status of current clinical practice in diagnosis of young onset dementia in England: Findings from The Angela Project: Neuropsychiatry and behavioral neurology/assessment/measurement of neuropsychiatric/behavioral and psychological symptoms. (7th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carter, Janet; O'Malley, Mary; Campbell, Jackie; Stamou, Vasileios; La Fontaine, Jenny H.; Oyebode, Jan; Parkes, Jacqueline
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 16(2020)Supplement 6
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-12-07
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.043465
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The presentation of dementia in young people is complex and challenging, often resulting in delays in receiving a confirmed diagnosis and appropriate support. A recent Delphi consensus has derived minimum and gold standards for the diagnostic workup that international expert clinicians consider best practice. This presentation will review the results of a large case note audit that assessed compliance with these standards in current UK clinical practice. Method: 403 patient records of young people who received a diagnosis of dementia in the last 5 years were audited according to our minimum and gold standards. Records were obtained from memory services within eight different National Health Service locations from across England. Result: We found significant differences between the sites in meeting the standards, though all sites had median scores that were below 50% compliance for both the minimum and gold standard. This suggests that current UK assessments fail to reach an acceptable standard. Conclusion: Further consultation with clinicians and young people with dementia is necessary to understand local impediments to meeting an acceptable standard and to identify interventions that can lead to improvement.