Educational interventions to improve detection and management of cognitive decline in primary care-An Italian multicenter pragmatic study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention addressed to Italian family physicians (FPs) to improve timely detection and management of cognitive decline. We conducted a pre-post study in six Italian health authorities (HAs) involving 254 FPs and 3,736 patients. We measured process and outcome indicators before the intervention and after the intervention. One interactive face-to-face session workshop was delivered by local cognitive disorders and dementia specialists and FP advisors at each HA, focused on key messages of the local Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Pathway (DTCP) or regional guidelines. Results from this study suggest the success of the educational intervention addressed to FPs in improving early detection and management of cognitive decline, highlighting the importance to continue medical education in this field. At the same time, further initiatives of care pathway dissemination and implementation should promote strategies to enhance interactions between primary and secondary care optimizing the collaboration between FPs and specialists.