Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2012 Jan-Mar;26(1):61-7. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e318212c0df.
Primary care providers routinely evaluate older adults and are thus in a position to first detect symptoms and signs of Alzheimer disease. In urban areas, diagnostic or management difficulties may be referred to specialists; however, in rural areas, specialists may not be available. The Clinician Partners Program (CPP) was initiated to enhance rural health providers' ability in the diagnosis of dementia and care, and to increase research recruitment into dementia research studies of participants from rural communities.
The CPP is a 3-day "miniresidency" of didactic, observational, and skill-based teaching techniques. Participants completed pretests and posttests evaluating dementia knowledge, confidence in providing care, and practice behaviors.
Between 2000 and 2009, 146 health care professionals with a mean age of 45.7±10.8 years attended the CPP; 79.2% were white, 58.2% were women, and 58% of participants had been in practice for more than 10 years. Posttests showed an improvement in knowledge and confidence for diagnosis and treatment and increased the use of dementia screening tools. Rural research participation in an urban Alzheimer Disease Research Center increased 52% over the pre-CPP period.
The following primary goals were accomplished: increased knowledge and confidence, changed practice habits, and enhanced research recruitment. Educational programs such as the CPP may be beneficial for increasing access to accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment for Alzheimer disease while also enhancing research participation.
初级保健提供者经常评估老年人，因此能够首先发现阿尔茨海默病的症状和体征。在城市地区，诊断或管理困难可能会转介给专家；然而，在农村地区，可能没有专家。临床医生合作伙伴计划（CPP）的启动旨在增强农村卫生提供者在诊断痴呆症和护理方面的能力，并增加对来自农村社区的参与者的痴呆症研究的研究招募。
CPP 是为期 3 天的“迷你居住”，包括教学、观察和基于技能的教学技术。参与者完成了评估痴呆症知识、提供护理信心和实践行为的预测试和后测试。
2000 年至 2009 年间，共有 146 名平均年龄为 45.7±10.8 岁的医疗保健专业人员参加了 CPP；79.2%为白人，58.2%为女性，58%的参与者从业超过 10 年。后测显示，诊断和治疗方面的知识和信心有所提高，并增加了使用痴呆症筛查工具。在 CPP 之前，农村地区在城市阿尔茨海默病研究中心的研究参与率增加了 52%。
以下主要目标得以实现：增加了知识和信心，改变了实践习惯，并加强了研究招募。像 CPP 这样的教育计划可能有助于增加对阿尔茨海默病的准确诊断和适当治疗的机会，同时也加强了研究参与。
