Reevaluation of a referral system for patients with initial diagnosis of Alzheimer´s disease in the region of Botucatu Cuesta in São Paulo State, Brazil

• Grant number: 13/22256-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2014
• End date: January 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Preventive Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Arthur Oscar Schelp
• Grantee: Júlia Teixeira Parra
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

One of the consequences of population aging and increasing of demented patients is the growing necessity of implementing referral systems to patients with Alzheimer´s suspicion after initial diagnosis of Alzheimer´s disease. Two years after educational program to first aid health staff, including nurse, social works and medical practitioner (family physicians) of a group of small towns in the region known as Botucatu Cuesta, it is proposed a reevaluation of referral methodology. The region includes 68 small towns with a reference hospital located in Botucatu. Among 71 patients there was confirmation of dementia in 31,8 %, while the other include many diseases with no relationship to Alzheimer´s disease or other forms of dementia. The results of the first attempt will be discussed with the firsts care team with attention to the causes of wrong referral. It will be provided to the community health personnel a referral program to patients identified at first examination as demented patients with suspected Alzheimer´s disease. The cases should be referred to a tertiary hospital, submitted to a neuropsychological and neuroimage investigation, with therapeutic actions when indicated. After diagnosis and initial treatment the patients should be referred to their original care group. The discussion must result in a common protocol to be applied to older age patients in the region of Cuesta of Botucatu in São Paulo State, Brazil. (AU)