Challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background - a cross-sectional study among German general practitioners
Abstract Background Diagnosing dementia, a syndrome affecting 35.6 million people worldwide, can be challenging, especially in patients with a migrant background. Language barriers and language-based diagnostic tools, cultural differences in the perception of the syndrome as well as restricted acces...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-019-0920-0 |
| _version_ | 1817978206305648640 |
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| author | Judith Tillmann Johannes Just Rieke Schnakenberg Klaus Weckbecker Birgitta Weltermann Eva Münster |
| author_facet | Judith Tillmann Johannes Just Rieke Schnakenberg Klaus Weckbecker Birgitta Weltermann Eva Münster |
| author_sort | Judith Tillmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Diagnosing dementia, a syndrome affecting 35.6 million people worldwide, can be challenging, especially in patients with a migrant background. Language barriers and language-based diagnostic tools, cultural differences in the perception of the syndrome as well as restricted access to healthcare can influence medical care. For the first time in Germany, this study investigates whether German general practitioners (GPs) feel prepared to meet the diagnostic needs of these patient groups and whether there are challenges and support needs. Methods A cross-sectional study among a random sample of 982 general practitioners in Germany was conducted from October 2017 to January 2018 (response rate: 34.5%). A self-developed, written, standardised questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics as well as multiple logistic regression analyses were performed using data of 326 GPs. Results Ninety-six percent of GPs reported having experienced barriers at least once. Uncertainties in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background were indicated by 70.9%. There was no significant association between uncertainties in diagnosing dementia and GPs’ sociodemographic characteristics. The most frequently reported barriers were language barriers that affected or prevented diagnostics (89.3%) and information deficits in patients with a migrant background (59.2%). Shameful interaction or lack of acceptance of the syndrome was also common (55.5%). A demand for more information about the topic was expressed by 70.6% of GPs. Conclusions Public health measures supporting GPs in their interaction with patients with a migrant background as well as information and services for dementia patients are needed. Efforts to facilitate access to interpreting services and to focus on people with a migrant background in healthcare are necessary. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00012503, date of registration: 05/09/2017 (German Institute of Medical Documentation and Information. German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) 2017). Clinical register of the study coordination office of the University hospital of Bonn: ID530, date of registration: 05/09/2017 (Universitätsklinikum Bonn. Studienzentrum. UKB-Studienregister 2017). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:27:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba95cf60305749268167f673fdd75ce8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T22:27:10Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba95cf60305749268167f673fdd75ce82022-12-22T02:27:03ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962019-02-0120111010.1186/s12875-019-0920-0Challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background - a cross-sectional study among German general practitionersJudith Tillmann0Johannes Just1Rieke Schnakenberg2Klaus Weckbecker3Birgitta Weltermann4Eva Münster5Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of BonnInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of BonnInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of BonnInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of BonnInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of BonnInstitute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of the University of BonnAbstract Background Diagnosing dementia, a syndrome affecting 35.6 million people worldwide, can be challenging, especially in patients with a migrant background. Language barriers and language-based diagnostic tools, cultural differences in the perception of the syndrome as well as restricted access to healthcare can influence medical care. For the first time in Germany, this study investigates whether German general practitioners (GPs) feel prepared to meet the diagnostic needs of these patient groups and whether there are challenges and support needs. Methods A cross-sectional study among a random sample of 982 general practitioners in Germany was conducted from October 2017 to January 2018 (response rate: 34.5%). A self-developed, written, standardised questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics as well as multiple logistic regression analyses were performed using data of 326 GPs. Results Ninety-six percent of GPs reported having experienced barriers at least once. Uncertainties in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background were indicated by 70.9%. There was no significant association between uncertainties in diagnosing dementia and GPs’ sociodemographic characteristics. The most frequently reported barriers were language barriers that affected or prevented diagnostics (89.3%) and information deficits in patients with a migrant background (59.2%). Shameful interaction or lack of acceptance of the syndrome was also common (55.5%). A demand for more information about the topic was expressed by 70.6% of GPs. Conclusions Public health measures supporting GPs in their interaction with patients with a migrant background as well as information and services for dementia patients are needed. Efforts to facilitate access to interpreting services and to focus on people with a migrant background in healthcare are necessary. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00012503, date of registration: 05/09/2017 (German Institute of Medical Documentation and Information. German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) 2017). Clinical register of the study coordination office of the University hospital of Bonn: ID530, date of registration: 05/09/2017 (Universitätsklinikum Bonn. Studienzentrum. UKB-Studienregister 2017).http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-019-0920-0General practitionerDementiaDiagnosticsMigrationGPPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Judith Tillmann Johannes Just Rieke Schnakenberg Klaus Weckbecker Birgitta Weltermann Eva Münster Challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background - a cross-sectional study among German general practitioners BMC Family Practice General practitioner Dementia Diagnostics Migration GP Public health |
| title | Challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background - a cross-sectional study among German general practitioners |
| title_full | Challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background - a cross-sectional study among German general practitioners |
| title_fullStr | Challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background - a cross-sectional study among German general practitioners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background - a cross-sectional study among German general practitioners |
| title_short | Challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background - a cross-sectional study among German general practitioners |
| title_sort | challenges in diagnosing dementia in patients with a migrant background a cross sectional study among german general practitioners |
| topic | General practitioner Dementia Diagnostics Migration GP Public health |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-019-0920-0 |
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