Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38589933›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's research & therapy2024

Use of a digital tool to support the diagnostic process in memory clinics-a usability study.

Aniek M van Gils, Hanneke F M Rhodius-Meester, Dédé Handgraaf, Heleen M A Hendriksen, Astrid van Strien, Niki Schoonenboom, Annemieke Schipper, Mariska Kleijer, Annemiek Griffioen, Majon Muller and 4 more

Open access · goldAbstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Toward compassionate communication: a rapid review on facilitating the dementia disclosure process.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. The Digitized Memory Clinic.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2024
    Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.

Aniek M van GilsAlzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.vangils@amsterdamumc.nl.
Hanneke F M Rhodius-MeesterAlzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Dédé HandgraafAlzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Heleen M A HendriksenAlzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Astrid van StrienDepartment of Geriatric medicine, Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis, Den Bosch, The Netherlands.
Niki SchoonenboomDepartment of Neurology, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Annemieke SchipperDepartment of Neurology, HagaZiekenhuis, location Zoetermeer, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands.
Mariska KleijerDepartment of Neurology, HagaZiekenhuis, location Zoetermeer, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands.
Annemiek GriffioenDepartment of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine Section, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Majon MullerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine Section, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Antti TolonenCombinostics Ltd, Tampere, Finland.
Jyrki LötjönenCombinostics Ltd, Tampere, Finland.
Wiesje M van der FlierAlzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Leonie N C VisserAlzheimer Center Amsterdam, Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Amsterdam University Medical Centers · NLVrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NLHaga Hospital · NLJeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis · NLSpaarne Gasthuis · NLUniversity of Amsterdam · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBoth memory clinic professionals and patients see value in digital tools, yet these hardly find their way to clinical practice. We explored the usability of a digital tool to support the diagnostic work-up in daily memory clinic practice. We evaluated four modules that integrate multi-modal patient data (1.cognitive test; cCOG, and 2. MRI quantification; cMRI) into useful diagnostic information for clinicians (3. cDSI) and understandable and personalized information for patients (4. patient report).

methodsWe conducted a mixed-methods study in five Dutch memory clinics. Fourteen clinicians (11 geriatric specialists/residents, two neurologists, one nurse practitioner) were invited to integrate the tool into routine care with 43 new memory clinic patients. We evaluated usability and user experiences through quantitative data from questionnaires (patients, care partners, clinicians), enriched with thematically analyzed qualitative data from interviews (clinicians).

resultsWe observed wide variation in tool use among clinicians. Our core findings were that clinicians: 1) were mainly positive about the patient report, since it contributes to patient-centered and personalized communication. This was endorsed by patients and care partners, who indicated that the patient report was useful and understandable and helped them to better understand their diagnosis, 2) considered the tool acceptable in addition to their own clinical competence, 3) indicated that the usefulness of the tool depended on the patient population and purpose of the diagnostic process, 4) addressed facilitators (ease of use, practice makes perfect) and barriers (high workload, lack of experience, data unavailability).

conclusionThis multicenter usability study revealed a willingness to adopt a digital tool to support the diagnostic process in memory clinics. Clinicians, patients, and care partners appreciated the personalized diagnostic report. More attention to education and training of clinicians is needed to utilize the full functionality of the tool and foster implementation in actual daily practice. These findings provide an important step towards a lasting adoption of digital tools in memory clinic practice.

Indexed as

Memory DisordersDigital HealthHumansSurveys and Questionnairesclinical decision supportcommunicationdigital toolsimplementationinnovationsmemory clinicusability

Identifiers

PMID38589933
PMCPMC11003066
OpenAlexW4394579384

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.