Attitudes of Japanese general practitioners towards referrals of patients with dementia

AIM AND METHODS: The cooperation of general practitioners and specialists is crucial to establish comprehensive medical services for demented older adults. In the current study we conducted a survey regarding the attitudes towards referrals between general practitioners and specialists by sending a questionnaire to 1,176 general practitioners. RESULTS: The 39.1% of the general practitioners returned the questionnaire. Of the respondents, 68.8% answered that they did not want referrals of demented patients from specialists, however, when analysis was limited to those who had an internal medicine background, only 26.3% did not want referrals. Difference of subspecialties within internists did not affect the preference for referrals. Regarding the reasons for referring the demented patients to specialists, more than 70% of the general practitioners chose "accurate diagnosis of the cause of dementia" and "decision of therapeutic plans". CONCLUSION: The majority of general practitioners in Japan may still be reluctant to follow patients with dementia mainly because they regard the practice of seeing demented patients as the subject outside of their specialty. Therefore providing general practitioners with opportunities to receive training programs regarding the practice and care of demented patients, as well as establishing support from specialists is necessary.