Center for the Research and Study of Aging, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
Margoletz Psychogeriatric Center, Ichilov Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Clin Interv Aging. 2014 Apr 9;9:613-9. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S60248. eCollection 2014.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild neurocognitive disorder is a well-established clinical entity included in current diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease and in major psychiatric classifications. In all, a loosely defined concern obtained from conceptually different sources (the individual, a knowledgeable informant, or a clinician) regarding a decline in cognition and change in functioning constitutes a sine qua non for initiating diagnostics and providing therapy and support. This concern in practice may translate into complex proactive help-seeking behavior. A better understanding of help-seeking preferences is required in order to promote early detection and management.
To compare help-seeking preferences of family physicians and the lay public in the area of MCI.
A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 197 family physicians (self-administered) and 517 persons aged 45 and over from the lay public (face to face). Information regarding familiarity with MCI and help-seeking preferences was assessed.
The vast majority in both samples reported that family physician, spouse, and children are the most highly recommended sources of help-seeking. In regard to professional sources of help-seeking, a higher percentage of the physicians than the lay public sample consistently recommended seeking help from nurses and social workers and psychiatrists, but a higher percentage of the lay public recommended turning to a neurologist for help.
There were both similarities and differences between family physicians and the lay public in their preferences regarding help-seeking for a person with MCI. Most prominent is the physicians' greater tendency to recommend professional sources of help-seeking.
Understanding of help-seeking preferences of both physicians and lay persons might help overcome barriers for establishing diagnosis, receiving care, and improving communication between doctors and patients.
轻度认知障碍（MCI）或轻度神经认知障碍是一种既定的临床实体，被纳入目前的阿尔茨海默病诊断指南和主要精神科分类中。总的来说，来自不同来源（个人、知情的信息提供者或临床医生）对认知下降和功能变化的担忧，构成了启动诊断、提供治疗和支持的必要条件。这种在实践中的担忧可能会转化为复杂的主动寻求帮助的行为。为了促进早期发现和管理，需要更好地了解寻求帮助的偏好。
比较家庭医生和普通公众在 MCI 领域的寻求帮助偏好。
使用结构化问卷从 197 名家庭医生（自我管理）和 517 名 45 岁及以上的普通公众（面对面）中收集数据。评估了对 MCI 的熟悉程度和寻求帮助偏好的信息。
两个样本中的绝大多数人都报告说，家庭医生、配偶和孩子是最受推荐的寻求帮助的来源。在寻求专业帮助方面，与普通公众样本相比，医生样本中更倾向于推荐寻求护士和社会工作者以及精神科医生的帮助，但普通公众样本中更倾向于向神经科医生寻求帮助。
家庭医生和普通公众在他们对 MCI 患者寻求帮助的偏好方面既有相似之处，也有不同之处。最突出的是医生更倾向于推荐专业的帮助来源。
了解医生和非专业人士的寻求帮助偏好可能有助于克服建立诊断、接受护理以及改善医患沟通的障碍。
