Prescription of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in Memory Clinics: Data From the Clinical Pathway for Alzheimer's Disease in China (CPAD) Study

Xinxin CAI, Yingyang ZHANG, Cheng SHI, Gloria H.Y. WONG, Hao LUO, Huali WANG

Research output: Journal PublicationsJournal Article (refereed)peer-review

Abstract

Objectives
Nonpharmacologic interventions are recommended to improve outcomes in dementia. Little is known about their prescription in practice, especially in non-Western populations. We investigated individual- and institution-level characteristics associated with nonpharmacologic interventions prescription in China.

Design
A multicenter observational study.

Setting and Participants
This study used cross-sectional data from 889 community-dwelling outpatients living with dementia ≥45 years of age from a multicenter registry of 28 memory clinics in China.

Methods
Prescription records of nonpharmacologic interventions, carer and clinic characteristics, and reasons for declining interventions were collected. Multilevel logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the prescription.

Results
Nonpharmacologic interventions were prescribed in 323 people (36.3%) with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Cognitive activities and carer training/support were the most prescribed interventions. Multilevel logistic regression showed that 73% of the variance in prescription was attributed to institutional characteristics of the memory clinic. Greater caregiving gain (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.09), lower burden (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-1.00), worse carer-perceived dyad relationship (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70-0.99), and family history of dementia (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.19-3.65) were individual-level factors associated with prescription. Among 440 people considered having a need but received no prescription, declined by user/carer was the main reason for not prescribing (70.7%). Skepticism about effectiveness by physicians/carers and carers being unable or lacking resources to use the interventions were the common reasons given.

Conclusions and Implications
A relatively low prescription rate of nonpharmacologic interventions is related to both individual- and institution-level factors. Carer support and education, instrumental support, and prescription guidelines across specialties and sites are possible strategies to improve access to nonpharmacologic interventions in dementia care.
Original languageEnglish
Article number105273
JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 19 Sept 2024

Bibliographical note

We thank the CPAD research group for data collection.

Keywords

  • Dementia
  • clinical practice
  • multicenter
  • cognitive activities
  • care support

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