Patient and family perceptions of rural primary care interprofessional memory clinics for diagnosis and management of dementia: a mixed methods study.

backgroundAging rural populations globally are leading to rising numbers of rural people living with dementia, who experience challenges in receiving a diagnosis and accessing formal supports. Guidelines recommend that primary care play a lead role in diagnosis and post-diagnostic care coordination, yet there are few rural-based examples. The purpose of this study was to better understand the experiences of rural patients and caregivers attending rural primary care-based memory clinics.

methodsThe parallel mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) design included a 10-item questionnaire (n = 27) and telephone interviews (n = 8) with patients and caregivers attending 6 rural primary care memory clinics in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada.

resultsThe majority of those who completed the questionnaire agreed that results of assessments were thoroughly explained, they felt free to discuss concerns, were told about treatments, that it was helpful having all the health-care professionals together, and they learned about available supports. Results were mixed regarding whether they needed more information about the condition and its course. Four themes were identified in interviews: benefits of local rural-based care, sense of being heard, value of team-based care, and feeling supported for the future.

conclusionsThe rural memory clinics, run by local health-care professionals, address barriers previously reported by rural patients and families including geographic distances to services, challenges obtaining a diagnosis, limited specialist access, and challenges accessing post-diagnosis information and support.