Background: We studied to what degree and at whose initiative 25 informational topics, formerly identified as important, are discussed in diagnostic consultations.
Methods: Audio recordings of clinician-patient consultations of 71 patients and 32 clinicians, collected in eight Dutch memory clinics, were independently content-coded by two coders. The coding scheme encompassed 25 informational topics.
Results: Approximately half (Mdn = 12) of the 25 topics were discussed per patient during the diagnostic process, with a higher frequency among individuals receiving a dementia diagnosis (Mdn = 14) compared to others (Mdn = 11). Individual topics ranged from being discussed with 2/71 (3%) to 70/71 (99%) of patients. Patients and/or care partners rarely initiated topic discussion (10%). When they did, they often enquired about one of the least frequently addressed topics.
Conclusion: Most patients received information on approximately half of the important informational topics. Providing the topic list to patients and care partners beforehand could allow consultation preparation and stimulate participation.
Keywords: diagnostic process; information provision; informational needs; informative topics; memory clinics.
© 2020 The Authors. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.