1. Objectifs

Intentions :
The objective of this paper is «[t]o identify factors that facilitate or impede family physicians in ambulatory care of patients with dementia and the family caregivers of such patients.» (p. 1008)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
25 family doctors

Instruments :
Guide de discussion

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«Physicians were recruited by telephone to be paid participants in their regions in focus groups studying aspects of dementia care in ambulatory settings. [...] An estimated 38.7% of their patients were 65 years old or older, and 5.6% of these patients had Alzheimer disease or related dementias. Physicians were comfortable caring for these patients and their family caregivers but thought much of this care should come from support services offered elsewhere. Physicians admitted they had little knowledge of these services and had little interest in acquiring information about them. Government-run, community-based health and social service centres were the ''black boxes'' to which they referred patients and their caregivers for any form of help. Inconsistencies in the services offered by these centres were noted.» (p. 1008) The authors draw the conclusion that «[w]hile family doctors are seeking a more seamless form of interdisciplinary dementia care, a large amount of that care comes from support services about which physicians are not well informed and are not interested in learning.» (p. 1008)