Diagnosis‐seeking at subspecialty memory clinics: trigger events

Abstract

A broad range of trigger events, beyond cognitive or symptomatic changes, caused caregivers to seek diagnosis at a memory clinic. Awareness of triggers significant to families may help physicians reduce the number and severity of events needed to convince caregivers a memory assessment is indicated.

Characteristics of help‐seeking behaviour in subjects with subjective memory complaints at a memory clinic: a case‐control study

“…This is in line with the findings of Streams et al (2003), who found that changes in cognitive or non-cognitive aspects reported by the caregiver accounted for 81% of the trigger events to seek help at a memory clinic. Cases also more often reported a positive family history of dementia as cause for their worries about their forgetfulness.…”

“…We also hypothesized that, compared to subjects who do not visit a memory clinic, the cases who visit a memory clinic had a lower quality of life (Mol et al, 2007), had less knowledge about their own memory functioning (Ponds and Jolles, 1996a), were more often worried about dementia (Commissaris et al, 1994) due to a family history of dementia, had more often experienced a life-changing event in the past year, and had experienced more changes in memory and daily functioning, as reported by a caregiver (Streams et al, 2003).…”

Behavioural characteristics associated with dementia assessment referrals in adults with Down syndrome

“…Referral reasons for the first 17 individuals with Down syndrome referred to a specialist service for older adults with ID and Down syndrome (Kalsy et al. 2005) show similarities to those noted within the general population literature (Streams et al. 2003).…”

“…Within the general population, few individuals self‐initiate referrals to memory clinics (Streams et al. 2003) because of poor awareness of early change or decline.…”

African American caregivers

“…Has this changed? Figure 2 Semi-structured interview questions Corbin, 1998). Member checking and peer examination were two strategies used to establish data credibility, trustworthiness and to ensure methodological rigor (Denzin & Lincoln, 2005).…”