Measuring the opinions of memory clinic users: patients, relatives and general practitioners

Background The opinions of memory clinic users are important to assess the value of memory clinics. Objective To measure the quality of care of an out patient memory clinic for the elderly as perceived by patients, their relat ives and general practitioners (GPs). Methods An observational study was conducted to measure the opinions of the users of a typical outpatient memory clinic. Opinions on five aspects were measured: (1) communication of the results, (2) provision of diagnostic in formation, (3) attitude of the clinicians, (4) usefulness of the medical as sessment, and (5) information and advice to relatives. Patients and relativ es were both interviewed with a dementia care satisfaction questionnaire. T he GPs' opinions were derived with a self-constructed questionnaire. Results On 105 consecutive assessments, 101 opinions of GPs, 81 of caregive rs and 31 of patients were recorded. Positive opinions were recorded on the way the results were communicated, the usefulness of the assessment and at titude of the clinicians. In contrast to GPs and relatives, patients were l ess positive about the clarity of the diagnostic information received. Both relatives and GPs were negative on information and advice to relatives. Conclusions Patients, caregivers and GPs had positive opinions about the di agnostic value of the memory clinic. Quality improvement could focus on the clarity of the diagnostic information for patients and on better advice to relatives. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.