What Provision Is Made by Practicing Physicians for Psychogeriatric Patients in Western Germany?

Abstract

This study examined some aspects of psychogeriatric care in Münster, Germany. The diagnostic and therapeutic attitudes of 94 general practitioners/internists and neurologists/psychiatrists toward demented patients were investigated by questionnaire. This figure represents a return rate of approximately 55% on the questionnaires. As is typical in Germany, no physicians were specializing in geriatric patients, and fewer general practitioners/internists than neurologists/psychiatrists had undergone supplementary psychogeriatric training. A higher percentage of the latter group estimated more than 10% of their elderly patients were demented. Both estimated Alzheimer's disease as less frequent than multi-infarct dementia. Physicians with training in psychogeriatrics claimed to treat more elderly patients than physicians with out it. With regard to therapeutic procedure, physicians with psychogeriatric training prescribed nootropics more guardedly. The data from this pilot study suggest that there are no eminent discrepancies between the different medical groups with regard to psychogeriatric care, but there is a great need for supplementary training.

Distinct attitudes of professionals from different medical specialties toward autonomy and legal instruments in the assessment of patients with Alzheimer's disease

“…With this in mind we cite a study where the diagnosis and therapeutic procedures of 94 general practitioners/interns and neurologists/psychiatrists, who dealt with psycho geriatric patients, were investigated by questionnaire. 14 Data obtained suggested that there were no stark discrepancies between the different medical groups with regard to psycho geriatric care. However, the decision to request relatives to take actions which guarantee the patient complete respect of their expressed wishes up to or before the onset of the dementia picture, or during disease evolution is not related to diagnosis or therapeutic measures, but to an attitude toward maintaining the autonomy of the individual with dementia.…”

Continuing medical education: Global health, global learning

“…7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 Fourteen focused on determining the learning needs and patterns of clinicians7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 73 74; 22 articles described in general terms an intervention such as a CME teleconference, programme, or course19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 ...…”

“…Needs have been analysed by multifocused surveys of rural practitioners in Australia8 11 and by broad, topic specific studies in Germany in psychogeriatrics9 and in Egypt in HIV and AIDS 13. Beyond standard surveys of needs, educators in Sri Lanka have used Delphi techniques to help practitioners evaluate their own clinical skills 16…”