Cognitive Screening Tools for Late Career Physicians: A Critical Review

2020 ◽  
pp. 089198872092471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Davis Garrett ◽  
William Perry ◽  
Betsy Williams ◽  
Lauri Korinek ◽  
David E. J. Bazzo
Keyword(s):  
Work Performance ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Fitness For Duty ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
The Us

Screening measures are widely used in medicine to assess the increased probability that members of a defined population have a particular condition and therefore require more extensive assessment. The rationale for prospective screening of late career physicians (LCPs) is drawn from the following circumstances: Senior physicians—prone to the vicissitudes of aging—comprise nearly a third of the US physician workforce, physicians are poor at self-evaluation, data suggest many have clinically relevant cognitive decline, and screening is an evidence-based, method to detect individuals at risk and determine whether a comprehensive evaluation is necessary. A handful of professional organizations (eg, surgeons, obstetricians, and a growing number of medical staff credentialing committees) have developed policies in this arena. This focused review compares cognitive screening methods used or recommended for LCPs, with particular attention to the psychometric properties, ease of operational implementation, and appropriate application to physicians—a population selected for high cognitive reserve and skills. Further, we identify gaps in knowledge and practice, including the need for more career-span normative data on physicians’ cognitive and work performance. Stakeholders can improve rehabilitation and other supports to LCPs in transition, calling upon the unique expertise of those neuropsychologists who are trained on conducting fitness for duty evaluations, as well as rehabilitation professionals who can assist in developing modifications to practice when indicated or facilitate graceful transitions to retirement when necessary.

Assessment of Cognitive Symptoms in Brain Bank-Registered Control Subjects: Feasibility and Utility of a Telephone-Based Screening

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Gerard Mayà ◽  
Jordi Sarto ◽  
Yaroslau Compta ◽  
Mircea Balasa ◽  
Teresa Ximelis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Bank ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Cognitive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Asymptomatic Subjects

Background: For neuroscience research, the study of brain tissue of neurologically unimpaired subjects is crucial to interpret findings in neurodegenerative diseases. Sub-optimal neurological follow-up and the presence of neuropathological lesions in supposedly asymptomatic subjects casts doubt as to whether these subjects present an undetected underlying neurodegenerative disease or are resilient to neurodegeneration. Objective: We aimed to assess whether the control donors registered in the Neurological Tissue Bank-Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS (NTB-HCI) are still free of cognitive symptoms at follow-up and to evaluate the feasibility and utility of a telephone-based screening. Methods: All control subjects older than 65 years registered at the NTB-HCI database were selected for the study. After a structured telephone interview, those subjects already diagnosed with a neurological disease were excluded. Then, a cognitive screening was performed, including the telephone version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (t-MMSE) and the eight-item interview (AD-8) to the subject and to one informant. Results: In total, 73.8% of the registered donors collaborated in the study. Only 21.4% had at least one of the three cognitive screening tools impaired, and 2.7% had a profile highly suggestive of cognitive impairment. AD-8i correlated moderately with t-MMSE. Conclusion: Telephone-based neurologic screening in control donors is feasible and was within the normal range in most of the subjects in our cohort. Albeit, the involvement of neurologists and periodic neurological screenings are desirable in a control subjects brain donor program, AD8-i could be used to screen the control’s neurological status in the absence of accurate clinical data at the time of the death.

Advances In Asthma Care

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Garvey
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Asthma Care ◽  
Advanced Level ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Asthma Knowledge ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Us ◽  
Examination Process

Asthma rates in the US have risen during the past 25 years, as have asthma-related morbidity and healthcare costs. Professional organizations involved in asthma care have identified the need to assure that an advanced level of asthma knowledge and skill is available to patients with asthma, their families, and insurers. This need led to development of the certification for asthma educators. The Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) must meet specific clinical criteria and pass a standardized examination designed to evaluate knowledge and skill for providing competent asthma education and coordination. The development and current status of the Certified Asthma Educator examination process and content are discussed, as are goals of the certification

A Memory Clinic at a Geriatric Hospital: A Report on 577 Patients Assessed with the CAMDEX Over 9 Years

2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe A. Stratford ◽  
Dina Logiudice ◽  
Leon Flicker ◽  
Roslyn Cook ◽  
Wendy Waltrowicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Memory Clinic ◽  
Mental Test Score ◽  
Patient Demographics ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Icd 10

Objective: To report 9 years’ experience of an Australian memory clinic using the Cambridge Mental Disorders in the Elderly Examination (CAMDEX) assessment schedule, summarizing patient demographics, diagnoses at presentation and the utility of four instruments used in distinguishing patients with and without dementia. Methods: All patients seen at the clinic between December 1989 and September 1998 were assessed using the CAMDEX. Diagnoses were determined according to criteria of the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10). Results: The mean age of 577 patients seen was 72.9 years and 60.8% were female. Over 40% fulfilled ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for dementia in Alzheimer's disease. A further 24% had another dementing illness. Only 28 patients were ‘normal’. There was no significant difference in the ability of the 107-item Cambridge cognitive examination, the 30-item mini-mental state examination, the 10-item abbreviated mental test score and the 26-item informant questionnaire on cognitive decline in the elderly to differentiate dementia patients from those who were normal or had functional psychiatric disorders. The four cognitive screening tools had high correlations with one another (r = −0.57 to 0.93). Conclusion: Patient demographics and diagnoses were similar to those found in other clinics. Most people who attended the memory clinic had significant cognitive or psychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals Screening tools for the identification of dementia for adults with age-related acquired hearing or vision impairment: a scoping review

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1771-1784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Pye ◽  
Anna Pavlina Charalambous ◽  
Iracema Leroi ◽  
Chrysoulla Thodi ◽  
Piers Dawes
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Vision Impairment ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Age Related

ABSTRACTBackground:Cognitive screening tests frequently rely on items being correctly heard or seen. We aimed to identify, describe, and evaluate the adaptation, validity, and availability of cognitive screening and assessment tools for dementia which have been developed or adapted for adults with acquired hearing and/or vision impairment.Method:Electronic databases were searched using subject terms “hearing disorders” OR “vision disorders” AND “cognitive assessment,” supplemented by exploring reference lists of included papers and via consultation with health professionals to identify additional literature.Results:1,551 papers were identified, of which 13 met inclusion criteria. Four papers related to tests adapted for hearing impairment; 11 papers related to tests adapted for vision impairment. Frequently adapted tests were the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). Adaptations for hearing impairment involved deleting or creating written versions for hearing-dependent items. Adaptations for vision impairment involved deleting vision-dependent items or spoken/tactile versions of visual tasks. No study reported validity of the test in relation to detection of dementia in people with hearing/vision impairment. Item deletion had a negative impact on the psychometric properties of the test.Conclusions:While attempts have been made to adapt cognitive tests for people with acquired hearing and/or vision impairment, the primary limitation of these adaptations is that their validity in accurately detecting dementia among those with acquired hearing or vision impairment is yet to be established. It is likely that the sensitivity and specificity of the adapted versions are poorer than the original, especially if the adaptation involved item deletion. One solution would involve item substitution in an alternative sensory modality followed by re-validation of the adapted test.

scholarly journals Adolescent Depression Screening: Not So Fast

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69
Author(s):  
Edmund C. Levin
Keyword(s):  
Pharmaceutical Industry ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Depression Screening ◽  
The Us ◽  
National Organizations ◽  
The Uk

Background: Screening adolescents for depression has recently been advocated by two major national organizations. However, this practice is not without controversy. Objective: To review diagnostic, clinical, and conflict of interest issues associated with the calls for routine depression screening in adolescents. Method: The evaluation of depression screening by the US Preventive Services Task Force is compared and contrasted with those of comparable agencies in the UK and Canada, and articles arguing for and against screening are reviewed. Internal pharmaceutical industry documents declassified through litigation are examined for conflicts of interest. A case is presented that illustrates the substantial diagnostic limitations of self-administered mental health screening tools. Discussion: The value of screening adolescents for psychiatric illness is questionable, as is the validity of the screening tools that have been developed for this purpose. Furthermore, many of those advocating depression screening are key opinion leaders, who are in effect acting as third-party advocates for the pharmaceutical industry. The evidence suggests that a commitment to marketing rather than to science is behind their recommendations, although their conflicts of interest are hidden in what seem to be impartial third-party recommendations.

scholarly journals The CRCbiome study: a large prospective cohort study examining the role of lifestyle and the gut microbiome in colorectal cancer screening participants

BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane Sørlie Kværner ◽  
Einar Birkeland ◽  
Cecilie Bucher-Johannessen ◽  
Elina Vinberg ◽  
Jan Inge Nordby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Precancerous Lesions ◽  
Colorectal Carcinogenesis ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Crc Screening ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Incidence And Mortality

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening reduces CRC incidence and mortality. However, current screening methods are either hampered by invasiveness or suboptimal performance, limiting their effectiveness as primary screening methods. To aid in the development of a non-invasive screening test with improved sensitivity and specificity, we have initiated a prospective biomarker study (CRCbiome), nested within a large randomized CRC screening trial in Norway. We aim to develop a microbiome-based classification algorithm to identify advanced colorectal lesions in screening participants testing positive for an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FIT). We will also examine interactions with host factors, diet, lifestyle and prescription drugs. The prospective nature of the study also enables the analysis of changes in the gut microbiome following the removal of precancerous lesions. Methods The CRCbiome study recruits participants enrolled in the Bowel Cancer Screening in Norway (BCSN) study, a randomized trial initiated in 2012 comparing once-only sigmoidoscopy to repeated biennial FIT, where women and men aged 50–74 years at study entry are invited to participate. Since 2017, participants randomized to FIT screening with a positive test result have been invited to join the CRCbiome study. Self-reported diet, lifestyle and demographic data are collected prior to colonoscopy after the positive FIT-test (baseline). Screening data, including colonoscopy findings are obtained from the BCSN database. Fecal samples for gut microbiome analyses are collected both before and 2 and 12 months after colonoscopy. Samples are analyzed using metagenome sequencing, with taxonomy profiles, and gene and pathway content as primary measures. CRCbiome data will also be linked to national registries to obtain information on prescription histories and cancer relevant outcomes occurring during the 10 year follow-up period. Discussion The CRCbiome study will increase our understanding of how the gut microbiome, in combination with lifestyle and environmental factors, influences the early stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. This knowledge will be crucial to develop microbiome-based screening tools for CRC. By evaluating biomarker performance in a screening setting, using samples from the target population, the generalizability of the findings to future screening cohorts is likely to be high. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01538550.

scholarly journals Advances In Asthma Care

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-90
Author(s):  
Chris Garvey
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Asthma Care ◽  
Advanced Level ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Asthma Knowledge ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Us ◽  
Examination Process

Asthma rates in the US have risen during the past 25 years, as have asthma-related morbidity and healthcare costs. Professional organizations involved in asthma care have identified the need to assure that an advanced level of asthma knowledge and skill is available to patients with asthma, their families, and insurers. This need led to development of the certification for asthma educators. The Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) must meet specific clinical criteria and pass a standardized examination designed to evaluate knowledge and skill for providing competent asthma education and coordination. The development and current status of the Certified Asthma Educator examination process and content are discussed, as are goals of the certification.

scholarly journals Perioperative Nutritional Screening Tools Are Not Associated with Poor Outcomes After Musculoskeletal Trauma

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1136-1136
Author(s):  
Aspen Miller ◽  
John Davison ◽  
Nathan Hendrickson ◽  
Erin Wilson ◽  
Natalie Glass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Screening Tool ◽  
Screening Method ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Nutritional Screening ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Poor Outcomes ◽  
Musculoskeletal Trauma

Abstract Objectives Malnutrition is predictive of poor outcomes after trauma. Side effects of both pain and narcotics often limit postoperative dietary intake increasing nutritional deficiencies and limiting wound healing. The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive ability of a dietician nutritional evaluation and a patient reported nutritional screening tool for post-operative complications after musculoskeletal trauma. Methods Adults with operative pelvis or long bone fractures were prospectively enrolled in a single-blinded RCT and included in this analysis. Subjects were evaluated with the Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) survey at baseline. Dietician Nutritional Assessment Screening (NAS) was performed for patients ≥65 years with low Albumin or Vitamin D, or admitted to the ICU. Complication analysis included subjects having minimum 6-month follow-up and/or ≥1 complication within six months. Spearman's Correlation was used to evaluate agreement between screening methods. Comparison using X analysis was done of complications between pre-operative assignment of malnutrition for each screening tool. Results Agreement of NAS and self-reported PG-SGA for 265 subjects demonstrated a weak correlation of rho = 0.23, P = 0.0002. Neither screening method had significant correlation for rates of non-union, mortality, medical, or surgical complications between designations of malnutrition (all P > .05). Among study subjects, incidence of those having a medical or surgical complication not screened by a dietician was 31.3% and 37.7% respectively. Conclusions Results indicate inconsistency in methods for assigning malnutrition in trauma population. Additionally, designation of malnutrition by either method was not associated with post-operative complication rates. The high incidence of those with a complication who were not evaluated by a dietician during initial hospitalization (1/3rd) support the need to develop better methods for screening malnutrition after trauma. Funding Sources American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Board of Specialty Societies Quality and Patient Safety Action Fund.

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