Facilitating Early Diagnosis of Dementia (FED-D)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Facilitating Early Diagnosis of Dementia (FED-D)
IRAS ID
129031
Contact name
Gill Livingston
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
In the UK, about 820,000 people have dementia. Nearly half of people never receive a diagnosis and for many diagnosis takes a long time. Diagnostic barriers include people with memory problems being reluctant to see their general practitioner (GP), GPs not seeing there is a problem or referring for help, and patient and family concerns about stigma. The UK Dementia Strategy promotes timely diagnosis of dementia, as early diagnosis and intervention in dementia facilitates access to specialist services, support and treatment. It is cost-effective and can help to reduce crises and delay care-home admission.
This study aims to increase timely diagnosis of dementia through an evidence-based intervention promoting memory service access. We will test in a randomised controlled trial if this intervention increases the number of people with undiagnosed dementia presenting with memory related problems to their GP; the number of patients GPs refer appropriately to memory services; and if this referral is at an earlier stage. We have worked with the Alzheimer’s Society and their reference groups to redesign the evidence-based CHOICE leaflet to ensure it is acceptable, understandable and relevant, and to develop a personal letter from GPs to the “at risk” population to accompany the leaflet.
Research question
Does sending a leaflet on how to overcome barriers to accessing help for dementia to people aged over 70 registered in a general practice, with an accompanying personal letter from the GP, lead to people with dementia presenting earlier to specialist dementia services compared with usual care over 12 months, and if so is it at low cost? We will test the hypotheses that over 12 months people receiving the intervention will present earlier than those not receiving it and that the costs of the intervention are small.
This project is funded by an Alzheimer’s Society grant.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0996
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion