LoGiudice D, Waltrowicz W, McKenzie S, Ames D, Flicker L
National Research Institute of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Melbourne.
Aust J Public Health. 1995 Jun;19(3):275-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.1995.tb00443.x.
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of dementia among patients referred to an aged care assessment team and to compare levels of burden and psychological morbidity between carers of cognitively normal persons and carers of people with dementia, in this population. Validated cognitive tests were administered to participants drawn from a random sample of all persons referred to the North West Hospital Aged Care Assessment Team, and diagnoses of dementia were made according to ICD-10 criteria. Available carers were assessed for psychological morbidity and burden with the General Health Questionnaire and the Zarit Family Burden Interview. Of 100 patients selected, 78 were assessed, of whom 34 (44 per cent) were cognitively normal and 34 (44 per cent) fulfilled ICD-10 criteria for dementia. A further 8 (10 per cent) had cognitive impairment not meeting the criteria for dementia. There was a high level of psychological morbidity and burden among the carers of both the cognitively normal patients and the dementia sufferers, which was largely accounted for by the patients' physical disability. This has implication for the adequate provision of health care and services to both patients and carers of this population. Adequate education of members of aged care assessment teams in the identification of dementia and their ability to refer to appropriate dementia-specific services and provide counselling for carers requires future planning.
本研究的目的是确定转介至老年护理评估团队的患者中痴呆症的患病率，并比较该人群中认知正常者的照料者与痴呆症患者的照料者之间的负担水平和心理疾病发病率。对从西北医院老年护理评估团队转介的所有人员的随机样本中抽取的参与者进行了经过验证的认知测试，并根据国际疾病分类第十版（ICD - 10）标准做出痴呆症诊断。使用一般健康问卷和扎里特家庭负担访谈对现有的照料者进行心理疾病和负担评估。在选定的100名患者中，78名接受了评估，其中34名（44%）认知正常，34名（44%）符合ICD - 10痴呆症标准。另有8名（10%）有不符合痴呆症标准的认知障碍。认知正常患者和痴呆症患者的照料者中，心理疾病和负担水平都很高，这在很大程度上是由患者的身体残疾造成的。这对为该人群的患者和照料者提供充分的医疗保健和服务具有启示意义。未来规划需要对老年护理评估团队成员进行关于痴呆症识别方面的充分教育，以及提高他们转介至适当的痴呆症专项服务并为照料者提供咨询的能力。
