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[The competence of family physicians in caring for dementia patients. A survey of general practitioners in Quebec].

OBJECTIVE
To assess the knowledge and skills of general practitioners in Quebec with respect to persons with dementia.


DESIGN
A questionnaire containing 47 multiple-choice questions on aptitude and nine questions on practice profiles and demographics.


SETTING
Province of Quebec.


PARTICIPANTS
Twelve hundred general practitioners selected randomly.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Performance with respect to the questionnaire's four objectives: to rate background knowledge, to evaluate physicians' knowledge of the assessment and treatment of dementia, to assess follow-up, and to assess interpersonal skills.


RESULTS
Average performance on the questionnaire was 64.7%, with a standard deviation of 11.79%. Performance did not differ markedly from one objective to the next. Most respondents were male (61.6%), working in urban settings (61.7%). Most (72.5%) were between 25 and 44 years, and 44.7% had between 6 and 15 years' experience. About half (44.7%) belonged to group practices, 43.8% worked in acute care hospitals, and 20.6% worked in extended care hospitals.


CONCLUSIONS
Quebec general practitioners have average ability to care for patients with dementia. Continuing education should focus on increasing physicians' knowledge of dementia, especially for those with the lowest scores; physicians 55 years and older, those practising alone, and those who spend less than 60% of their practice time with elderly patients.