Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health (ISAP), University of Leipzig, Phillip-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig, 04103, Germany.
Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald (UMG), Greifswald, Germany.
BMC Prim Care. 2024 Aug 14;25(1):301. doi: 10.1186/s12875-024-02566-3.
General practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role in identifying cognitive impairment and dementia and providing post-diagnostic care. This study investigates (1) how promising GP consider lifestyle changes to maintain cognitive performance in general, (2) GP beliefs about the power of modifiable health and lifestyle factors to maintain cognitive performance, and (3) whether those beliefs vary by GP age.
As part of the AgeWell.de trial, GPs (n = 72) completed a process evaluation questionnaire assessing their perspectives on lifestyle changes to preserve cognitive performance in elderly patients. In greater detail, their perceived efficacy of established risk and protective factors was investigated using a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed for research question (1) and (2). Spearman´s rank correlations and ordinal logistic regressions were used to answer research question (3). All results were interpreted exploratively.
GPs rated the overall chance of lifestyle changes maintaining cognitive performance quite neutral with a median score of 3.0 (IQR = 2.0). They rated the efficacy of all the modifiable health and lifestyle factors high, with increase in physical and social activity ((Mdn = 5.0, IQR = 1.0) receiving the highest ratings with the narrowest range. Spearman's rank correlation indicated a significant positive relationship between age and the belief in "Optimization of nutrition" for preventing cognitive decline and dementia (ρ = .255, p = .041). However, ordinal logistic regressions showed no significant relationships between age and GP ratings of lifestyle change efficacy.
These findings highlight the positive perception of GPs on the efficacy of modifiable health and lifestyle factors for preventing cognitive decline and dementia.
The AgeWell.de trial is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; trial identifier: DRKS00013555, Registration Date 07 December 2017).
全科医生（GP）在识别认知障碍和痴呆症并提供诊断后护理方面发挥着至关重要的作用。本研究调查了（1）全科医生对生活方式改变以维持一般认知表现的看法，（2）全科医生对可改变的健康和生活方式因素维持认知表现的能力的信念，以及（3）这些信念是否因全科医生的年龄而异。
作为 AgeWell.de 试验的一部分，全科医生（n=72）完成了一项过程评估问卷，评估他们对老年患者保持认知表现的生活方式改变的看法。更详细地说，使用 5 分李克特量表调查了他们对既定风险和保护因素的感知效力。使用描述性统计分析回答了研究问题（1）和（2）。使用 Spearman 秩相关和有序逻辑回归回答了研究问题（3）。所有结果均进行了探索性解释。
全科医生对生活方式改变维持认知表现的总体机会评价相当中立，中位数评分为 3.0（IQR=2.0）。他们对所有可改变的健康和生活方式因素的功效评价较高，其中增加身体和社会活动（（Mdn=5.0，IQR=1.0）获得了最高的评分和最窄的范围。Spearman 秩相关表明，年龄与预防认知能力下降和痴呆症的“优化营养”信念之间存在显著的正相关关系（ρ=。255，p=。041）。然而，有序逻辑回归显示，年龄与全科医生对生活方式改变功效的评价之间没有显著关系。
这些发现强调了全科医生对可改变的健康和生活方式因素预防认知能力下降和痴呆症的功效的积极看法。
AgeWell.de 试验在德国临床试验注册中心（DRKS；试验标识符：DRKS00013555，注册日期为 2017 年 12 月 7 日）注册。
