Views of primary care physicians on digital tools for dementia diagnosis and follow up: a survey study

Considering the increasing number of elderly and patients with dementia, along with the challenges of maintaining accessible healthcare, digital tools present a promising opportunity to alleviate the workload associated with dementia diagnosis and care. Despite this potential, their utilization in the daily practice of primary care remains limited. In this survey study, we assessed opinions of primary care physicians (PCPs) on digital tools, such as web-based cognitive assessments or digital questionnaires for everyday functioning for use in the context of dementia diagnosis and monitoring. Between June 2023 and February 2024, we conducted a web-based survey among PCPs in the Netherlands and Norway. 107 PCPs completed the survey (mean age 47 ± 11 years, 64(60%)F, years of experience 12 ± 11). The survey consisted of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. First, we assessed daily challenges in dementia care. Next, we asked PCPS to rank facilitators and barriers on a Likert scale from very unimportant to very important. Finally, we asked participants their perception on how patients would perceive digital tools, in the present and in the future. We compared answers across subgroups based on male versus female sex, years of experience below versus on or above the median, rural versus urban area, and compared both countries. Open-ended questions were combined and subsequently coded using an inductive approach and applied to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Most PCPs (77/106;73%) were positive about using digital tools in clinical practice. Lack of time was most frequently mentioned as a challenge in the adoption of tools (18/107 PCPs;17%). Facilitators included user-friendliness, transparency and information about validity of the tool. Barriers concerned poor integration into electronic patient records and loss of important information such as observations by the doctor. PCPs support the use of digital tools, yet for successful implementation in practice strategies to exploit facilitators and overcome barriers are needed, e.g. through reimbursement and standardized guidelines.