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Rural practitioners' experiences in dementia diagnosis and treatment
Teel CS.. Aging & mental health, 2004-09-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
When diagnosis of dementia occurs earlier in the disease process, more time is available for treatment aimed at maintaining patient function and delaying decline, and for family education about the disease and its management. Primary care providers often, however, face challenges in making timely diagnoses. Nineteen practitioners in mostly rural areas of a mid-western state were interviewed about their experiences in diagnosis and treatment, to develop a more comprehensive understanding of barriers encountered by providers in non-metropolitan areas. Participants estimated that the time from symptom onset to diagnosis ranged from several months to one year, largely dependant upon family recognition. Limitations in access to consultants and limited or non-existent community support and education resources were major impediments to diagnosis and treatment, respectively. Like their colleagues in more urban communities, denial among family members, or families who were absent or uncooperative, created additional challenges for providers in making and communicating diagnoses and in supporting home-based or institutional care. Conversely, supportive and motivated families played a central role in positive patient care experiences. Participants agreed that support and education services were important for family caregivers, but generally had few resources to offer families, which constrained their ability to provide optimal care. Identifying challenges faced by rural practitioners is essential to planning appropriate interventions for consultative support and educational outreach.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Teel, C. S. (2004). Rural practitioners' experiences in dementia diagnosis and treatment. Aging & mental health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860410001725018
Vancouver
Teel CS. Rural practitioners' experiences in dementia diagnosis and treatment. Aging & mental health. 2004. doi:10.1080/13607860410001725018. PMID: 15511740.
BibTeX
@article{teel2004-15511740,
author = {Teel, C. S.},
title = {{Rural practitioners' experiences in dementia diagnosis and treatment}},
journal = {Aging \& mental health},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1080/13607860410001725018},
pmid = {15511740},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860410001725018}
}
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Key findings
- Limitations in access to consultants and limited or non-existent community support and education resources were major impediments to diagnosis and treatment, respectively.
- Like their colleagues in more urban communities, denial among family members, or families who were absent or uncooperative, created additional challenges for providers in making and communicating diagnoses and in supporting home-based or institutional care.
- Conversely, supportive and motivated families played a central role in positive patient care experiences.
- Participants agreed that support and education services were important for family caregivers, but generally had few resources to offer families, which constrained their ability to provide optimal care.
- Identifying challenges faced by rural practitioners is essential to planning appropriate interventions for consultative support and educational outreach.
Why it matters
This interview study of rural practitioners describes barriers to timely dementia diagnosis and treatment, including limited access to consultants and few community support and education resources. It concerns the diagnostic and care process, not any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 37/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Aging & mental health) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Aging & Mental Health: journal h-index 153 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 95 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.0 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Cynthia S. Teel: h-index 20 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Kansas: institution h-index 709 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15511740) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 37 / 100 | — |
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