Background: Dementia care is a global health priority, recognised as one of the greatest health and social care challenges of our time. A timely diagnosis of dementia can improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their family caregivers, relieving psychological distress, offering the opportunity to access appropriate support services and the ability to participate in discussions and decision making about future care. Despite supporting evidence of the benefits of timely diagnosis and early intervention, dementia remains under-diagnosed in Ireland with less than 50% of those living with dementia ever receiving a diagnosis. Research has highlighted diagnostic challenges with late referral to specialist Memory Clinics and difficulties accessing and communicating with dementia care specialists
Aim: To develop an evidence-informed referral guideline and referral form for referring patients with suspected cognitive impairment or dementia from general practice to secondary care.
Design: Our programme of research will consist of 4 distinct but inter-linked work-packages (WPs) that have been underpinned by PPI input throughout the development and evaluation phases of the project. In WP1 a scoping review of the literature will be undertaken, to identify and map guidelines for referring patients with suspected cognitive impairment or dementia from general practice to secondary care. WP2 will involve a Delphi consensus study, to identify key components of a referral guideline. In WP3 a referral form will be designed and user-tested in three specialist Memory Clinics in Cork, Sligo and Kilkenny. A mixed-methods evaluation of the referral form will be undertaken in WP4, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Impact on Health and Practice: Drawing on our multidisciplinary team’s expertise in dementia research, care and policy-making, this project will produce an evidence-based referral guideline and referral form that will be user-tested and evaluated in clinical practice.
