Collaborative Care Models of Primary Care Clinics for People with Early-Stage Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Primary Care Physicians in Japan

TL;DR

This study examines how primary care clinics in Japan collaborate with care managers to support people with early-stage dementia.

Contribution

The study identifies three distinct collaboration models and their effectiveness in meeting dementia care needs.

Findings

Two collaborative models (PCP-led and CM-led) and one stand-alone model were identified.

PCP-led clinics provided more support across five key domains compared to stand-alone clinics.

CM-led clinics showed intermediate support levels between PCP-led and stand-alone models.

Abstract

This study explored collaboration models between primary care physicians (PCPs) and care managers (CMs) and assessed each model’s potential in meeting the support needs of individuals with early-stage dementia.

In 2022, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among the PCPs in Tokyo. The data regarding the participant and clinic characteristics and daily practices for individuals with early-stage dementia were collected. The clinical collaborative practice was classified using a latent class analysis; comparisons were made between the identified classes based on 14 items in seven domains of support.

Two collaborative and one stand-alone models were identified. The former varied in the professionals’ roles, with one led by PCPs and the other by CMs. We named them PCP-led, CM-led, and stand-alone models, accounting for 46.4%, 32.8%, and 20.6% of the clinics, respectively. The PCP-led clinics were significantly more likely to provide support than the stand-alone ones across five domains: cognitive function, care planning, carers’ support, information, and social health. The CM-led model clinics generally fell between those of the other two models.

Different leadership styles exist in the PCP-CM collaborations in care delivery for people with early-stage dementia. This collaboration offers distinct advantages for clinics in addressing their needs.

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