Physicians’ corner: Canadian doctors share their most-used dementia-care tools
Recently, we worked with the College of Family Physicians of Canada to survey doctors nationwide. And we asked family physicians to share the dementia-care tools they currently use most. Here's what they told us.
There are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of webpages and tools available worldwide about dementia — but which ones are actually useful to family physicians in Canada?
Given that family doctors are the health-care providers most often responsible for dementia diagnosis and care in Canada, this is a vital question.
So last year, the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada surveyed family physicians across the country as part of a research study on how dementia care in Canada can be improved.
One of the questions we asked doctors was about the top tools and resources they currently use most in supporting people living with dementia and their care partners.
The family physicians in our survey identified roughly 40 tools and resources that were of significant use to them. Topics include driving, pain and cognition, among others.
We have compiled and shared these tools in list form below. We have also, at the end of this article, pointed to some other resources Canadian family physicians might find helpful.
In the months to come, we will be working to create more tools and resources specifically designed to meet the needs of physicians.
Cognition tools
- Global Deterioration Scale (GDS)
- Kingston Standardized Cognitive Assessment-Revised (KSCAr)
- Memory Clinic Brain Map Centre for Family Medicine
- Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS)
Education tools
- Alzheimer's Society Materials
- First Link®
- Practice Based Small Group Learning Program
- Teepa Snow Education Modules
Function and Frailty tools
Pain tools
- Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) Scale
- Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate (PACSLAC-II)
Mood and Behaviour tools
- CAMH Integrated Care Pathway Tool
- Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI)
- Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia
- Dementia Observational System (BSO-DOS) Tool
- Frontal Behavioural Inventory (FBI)
- General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
- Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
- Kingston Standardized Behavioural Assessment (KSBA)
- Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9)
- P.I.E.C.E.S. (Physical. Intellectual. Emotional. Capabilities. Environment. Social) Assessment Tool
Driving tools
- Driving and Dementia (KFLA)
- Driving and Dementia Tool Kit
- CMA Driver's Guide
- Simard Driving Screening Test
Care Planning/Prognosis tools
- ABLE Planning Care Guide
- ePrognosis
- Advanced Care Planning Canada
- Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale (KCSS)
- Palliative Performance Scale (PPS)
- Supportive & Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT)
Pharmacotherapy tools
- Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale (ACB)
- Anticholinergic Risk Scale
- Patient Medication User Self-evaluation (MUSE)
- Rxfiles
Other dementia tools and resources for family physicians to be aware of
- To learn about even more resources, check out our webpage about other resources and tools for healthcare providers. Here you will find more resources about driving, pain, dementia research, long-term care, and more.
- Another potentially helpful resource to read is our resource list for family physicians. Here, you will find resources for other topics, such as non-pharmacological approaches, tools from international organizations, as well as Indigenous-specific tools.
Are you a family physician who would like to recommend a tool or resource? Do you have other feedback or wish to participate in future surveys or studies? Email publications@alzheimer.ca with any questions, suggestions or concerns.