Knowledge, attitudes, and qualification needs of primary health care professionals in the care of dementia

Abstract

Objective: To identify the knowledge and attitudes of doctors and nurses in tracking, diagnosing, treating, and monitoring dementias and their educational needs in this area. Method: Cross-sectional study, carried out among 195 doctors and 274 nurses working in teams of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the city of São Paulo. The instrument used was Health Care for Dementia: the Primary Care perspective. The data were submitted for descriptive statistics. Results: Among physicians, 64.1% reported routinely diagnosing dementia, but only 23.1% in the mild phase; 89.2% mentioned difficulties in identifying cases of the disease; 94.9%, difficulties in the treatment and monitoring of patients, including the needs to support the caregiver (28.2%); 84.6% of doctors and 79.2% of nurses reported difficulties in monitoring severe cases of the disease. Conclusion: Gaps in knowledge were identified regarding the tracking and diagnosis of dementia, patient monitoring, diagnostic information, and support for the caregiver.

Management in severe dementia: recommendations of the Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology

“…Due to the problems in the health, economic, and social sectors in Brazil and the need for biopsychosocial support (especially during this serious health crisis 49 ), reference and assistance centers have created projects which aim to minimize the direct and indirect social costs of PWD caregivers 50,51 . These projects are in line with most guidelines from international consensus meetings of associations [52][53][54][55][56][57] , universities 58,59 , and scientific committees 57,60 .…”

Estratégias de identificação de demandas em saúde de pessoas com condições crônicas: relato de experiência / Health demand identification strategies for people with chronic conditions: experience report

“…No que concerne às ações de autocuidado, é importante que a pessoa em adoecimento crônico reconheça seu papel no desenvolvimento dessas ações e, aos profissionais, compete valorizar e apoiar as mudanças, por meio do diálogo, com o intuito de despertar na pessoa a necessidade de tornar as ações de autocuidado mais efetivas (COSTA et al, 2020;TESTON;SALES;MARCON, 2017).…”

Manejo das demências em fase avançada: recomendações do Departamento Científico de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Envelhecimento da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia

“…Devido aos problemas nos setores de saúde, econômico e social no Brasil e à necessidade de apoio biopsicossocial, notadamente, neste momento de grave crise de sanitária 49 , centros de referência e assistencial têm criado projetos que visam minimizar o impacto social direto, e custos indiretos de cuidadores de PCD 50,51 . Esses projetos estão em consonância com a maioria das diretrizes de reuniões de consenso internacionais de associações [52][53][54][55][56][57] , universidades 58,59 e comitês científicos 57,60 .…”

“…Due to the problems in the health, economic, and social sectors in Brazil and the need for biopsychosocial support (especially during this serious health crisis 49 , reference and assistance centers have created projects which aim to minimize the direct and indirect social costs of PWD caregivers 50 ),( 51 . These projects are in line with most guidelines from international consensus meetings of associations 52 )-( 57 , universities 58 ),( 59 , and scientific committees 57 ),( 60 .…”