Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38733099›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of neurology2024

Diverging medical and legal perceptions of the need for legal guardianship in people with dementia: A qualitative study.

Kaisa Näkki, Anna Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen, Kaijus Ervasti, Arja Halkoaho, Sanna-Maria Nurmi, Alina Solomon, Noora-Maria Suhonen, Anne M Portaankorva, Johanna Krüger, Eino Solje

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Article in European journal of neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

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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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

10 authors.

Kaisa NäkkiCenter of Law and Welfare, Law School, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-3894-8441
Anna Mäki-Petäjä-LeinonenCenter of Law and Welfare, Law School, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland.
Kaijus ErvastiCenter of Law and Welfare, Law School, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland.
Arja HalkoahoTampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, Finland.
Sanna-Maria NurmiInstitute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Alina SolomonInstitute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Noora-Maria SuhonenNeurocenter, Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Anne M PortaankorvaClinical Neurosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Johanna KrügerNeurocenter, Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
Eino SoljeInstitute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-9940-9524

Funding

State Research FundingThe Centenary Foundation of Kymi CorporationThe Finnish Brain Foundation 20210092The Finnish Medical FoundationThe Foundation of the Finnish Bar Association (Suomen Asianajajaliiton Säätiö sr)The Kone Foundation 202105674The Olga and Kaarle Oskari Laitinen FoundationThe Sigrid Juselius FoundationThe Wihuri Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDementia is assumed to alter mental capacity, which may necessitate legal guardianship. However, only limited research exists on how dementia affects mental capacity, and most studies have focused solely on a medical perspective and concentrate on memory functions. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate physicians' and legal experts' perceptions on a broad range of cognitive and neuropsychiatric domains potentially affecting mental capacity and the need for guardianship in people with dementia.

methodsPhysicians (N = 30) and legal experts (N = 20) participated in semi-structured individual interviews. The data were analyzed by using content analysis and further semi-quantified according to the cognitive and neuropsychiatric domains.

resultsPhysicians considered neuropsychiatric symptoms and executive dysfunction to be the most important deficits in the legal context, while legal experts highlighted episodic memory impairment and dyscalculia. Perceptions regarding the importance of several cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms varied between and within the professional groups.

conclusionsPhysicians and legal experts diverged in their perceptions of cognitive and neuropsychiatric domains affecting mental capacity and the need for guardianship. The evaluation and influence of medical evidence among legal experts heavily rely on subjective opinions. Given the substantial potential impact on patients' equal access to their rights, developing standardized guidelines is essential.

Indexed as

DementiaLegal GuardiansPhysiciansQualitative ResearchAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelFemaleHumansMaleMental CompetencyMiddle Ageddementialegal guardianshipmental capacityneurologyneuropsychiatry

Identifiers

PMID38733099
PMCPMC11236050

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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.