Screening for Cognitive Function in Clinical Practice
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Role of Instruments for Screening Cognitive Function and Alzheimer’s disease: A Sociological Exploration
IRAS ID
138613
Contact name
Julia Swallow
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Research summary
The rise in the number of individuals aged 65 and over necessarily means that there are an increasing number of individuals who will develop age related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Detecting Alzheimer’s disease in its earliest stages is difficult and complex and there is no one diagnostic test that will confirm the presence of the disease. Instruments for screening cognitive function are used by a diverse range of clinicians throughout healthcare practice to assess, or review, levels of initial cognitive impairment associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The results of these screening tools inform further clinical practice as well as public health policy more widely. However, we know very little about the role and employment of these screening instruments in the process of diagnosing AD or the implications of these tests for treatment options and healthcare service delivery. The project will focus on how, why and when health practitioners use these instruments in clinical practice; and how results influence further diagnostic testing and treatment of patients. The study will employ qualitative methods including participant observation of consultations where these instruments will be used, follow-up interviews with 30 clinical professionals and documentary analysis of relevant policy sources. One aspect of this will be to explore the current implementation of the Dementia Commissioning for Quality and Innovation Framework (Dementia CQUIN). This sets out the aim in clinical practice to screen all individuals over the age of 75 admitted to Acute Medical Care for decline in cognitive function. Semi-structured interviews with managers who implement this framework will also be carried out. I will consider how these tools are used according to the health care practitioner or setting and how this relates to the accuracy and timeliness of the diagnosis of AD and care of patients. This is not a clinical project: the study will be focusing on professional practice in understanding a diagnosis of AD. The study is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0411
Date of REC Opinion
23 Dec 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion