Effects of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative early detection of cognitive impairment program on clinician attitudes, engagement, and confidence

Abstract

Background: The number of people with dementia is expected to grow substantially across the world due to population aging, but cognitive impairment remains undetected and undiagnosed, especially in early stages. Newly available diagnostic tools such as digital cognitive assessments and blood biomarker tests may be well suited to increase the rates of early detection of dementia in primary care.

Objectives: The objective of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative Healthcare System Preparedness (DAC-SP) Early Detection Flagship Program was to improve the rate of early detection of cognitive impairment in primary care and non-specialty settings. We aimed to understand the program's impact on clinician attitudes, engagement, and confidence in diagnosing and managing cognitive impairment.

Design: Survey of participating healthcare professionals before and after the intervention.

Setting: The DAC Healthcare System Preparedness Early Detection Flagship Program was implemented in seven sites across six countries: Brazil, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Scotland, and the United States (2 sites).

Participants: 110 healthcare professionals, including, primary care physicians, specialists (neurologists and psychologists), nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, and healthcare support workers completed the pre-intervention survey. 68 healthcare professionals completed the post-intervention survey.

Intervention: Participating sites implemented a digital cognitive assessment tool and a blood biomarker test for the Alzheimer's pathology and were trained in the administration of the digital cognitive assessment tool. The intervention was adapted to each site for cultural relevance and operational feasibility.

Measurements: Participants completed the General Practitioners Attitude and Confidence Scale for Dementia (GPACS-D), a 15-item scale with three subscales: Attitude to Care (six items), Confidence in Clinical Abilities (six items), and Engagement (three items). In addition to the subscale scores, the total GPACS-D score was reported.

Results: Across all sites, there was a significant increase in the Confidence in Clinical Abilities score from 2.98 (SD = 0.77) pre-intervention to 3.27 (SD = 0.72) post-intervention (p = 0.01), and in the total GPACS-D score from 3.48 (SD = 0.48) to 3.65 (SD = 0.39) (p = 0.01). There were non-significant increases in the Attitude to Care and Engagement scores across all sites.

Conclusions: The implementation of digital cognitive assessment tools and a blood biomarker test was associated with an increase in healthcare professionals' confidence in diagnosing and managing patients with cognitive impairment in primary care and non-specialty settings. Digital cognitive assessments and blood biomarker tests are promising tools that could be utilized in primary care to increase clinicians' confidence in detecting dementia and lead to timely clinical evaluation, treatment, and referral to supportive resources.