When older patients develop cognitive problems - like memory loss - there may be any of several underlying causes, sometimes occurring in combination. Clinicians have a better chance of providing appropriate treatment if they understand what the cause of the problem is. A diagnostic tool can help the patient by helping the clinician to make a more accurate diagnosis. This study investigates whether a new diagnostic tool - beta amyloid imaging - may potentially improve medical practice. The tool can potentially improve practice only if it can influence clinical judgment. This study investigates whether the provision of beta amyloid imaging information influences clinical judgment. The investigators will conduct a survey that presents clinicians with descriptions of hypothetical older patients with cognitive complaints. Some of the respondents also receive beta amyloid imaging information. The investigators will test the investigators hypothesis that the information will affect diagnostic judgment and management recommendations by comparing the responses of clinicians who receive the beta amyloid information to the responses of clinicians who do not.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
315
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Influence of the Neuroimaging Test on a Finding of Alzheimer's Disease as the Underlying Cause of the Mild Memory Loss
Proportion of respondents who identify Alzheimer's Disease as the sole or a contributing factor that is responsible for the patient's cognitive complaint.
Time frame: Online Survey - completion during the estimated 2-3 month field period
Likelihood of Recommending a Medication Indicated for Alzheimer's Disease
Proportion of respondents who recommend a medication indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, including Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists, Typical antipsychotics - e.g., Chlorpromazine (Thorazine), Haloperidol (Haldol), Atypical antipsychotics - e.g., Clozapine (Clozaril), Risperidone (Risperdal), Antidepressant - e.g., Citalopram (Celexa), Venlafaxine (Effexor), Antianxiety agent - e.g. Benzodiazepines, Buspirone (Buspar).
Time frame: Online Survey - completion during the estimated 2-3 month field period
Likelihood of Recommending That Spouse Take Various Cognitive Deficit Disease Management Measures
Proportion of respondents who recommend that the patient's spouse take actions that would be appropriate if the patient has Alzheimer's disease, including: (1) discussion of advance care planning, (2) monitoring of patient's finances, (3) assessment of how compatible the patient's job is with his conditions, (4) the initiation of precautions to ensure the patient is properly taking his medications to manage hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
Time frame: Online Survey - completion during the estimated 2-3 month field period
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