Towards Consensus on Essential Components of Physical Examination in Primary Care-based Memory Clinics*

Authors

  • George A. Heckman University of Waterloo
  • Bryan B. Franco University of Waterloo
  • Linda Lee McMaster University
  • Loretta Hillier St. Joseph's Health Care London and Parkwood Institute
  • Veronique Boscart University of Waterloo; Conestoga College
  • Paul Stolee University of Waterloo
  • Lauren Crutchlow University of Western Ontario
  • Joel A. Dubin University of Waterloo
  • Frank Molnar University of Ottawa; The Ottawa Hospital; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Bruyere Research Institute
  • Dallas Seitz Queen's University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5770/cgj.21.296

Keywords:

dementia, assessment, interprofessional, consensus, examination

Abstract

Background

Primary care-based memory clinics were established to meet the needs of persons with memory concerns. We aimed to identify: 1) physical examination maneuvers required to assess persons with possible dementia in specialist-supported primary care-based memory clinics, and 2) the best-suited clinicians to perform these maneuvers in this setting.

Methods

We distributed in-person and online surveys of clinicians in a network of 67 primary care-based memory clinics in Ontario, Canada.

Results

90 surveys were completed for an overall response rate of 66.7%. Assessments of vital signs, gait, and for features of Parkinsonism were identified as essential by most respondents. There was little consensus on which clinician should be responsible for specific physical examination maneuvers.

Conclusions

While we identified specific physical examination maneuvers deemed by providers to be both necessary and feasible to perform in the context of primary care-based memory clinics, further research is needed to clarify interprofessional roles related to the examination.

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Published

2018-07-09

How to Cite

1.
Heckman GA, Franco BB, Lee L, Hillier L, Boscart V, Stolee P, Crutchlow L, Dubin JA, Molnar F, Seitz D. Towards Consensus on Essential Components of Physical Examination in Primary Care-based Memory Clinics*. Can Geriatr J [Internet]. 2018 Jul. 9 [cited 2024 Apr. 19];21(2):143-51. Available from: https://cgjonline.ca/index.php/cgj/article/view/296

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Original Research

License

Authors contributing to the Candian Geriatrics Journal retain copyright of their work, with exclusive publication rights granted to the Canadian Geriatrics Society upon article acceptance. Read the journal's full copyright and open access policy.