How do patients, medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet-based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice? - A qualitative study
Abstract Background Approximately 1.8 million people with dementia live in Germany and the number is expected to increase in the coming years. Between 360,000 and 440,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. General practitioners (GPs) are often the first point of contact for people with concerns abou...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Primary Care |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02823-z |
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| author | Kristin Rolke Carolin Rosendahl Klaus Weckbecker Alexander Hanke Michael Wagner Leon Nissen Lara Marie Reimer Stephan Jonas Philipp Schaper Jochen René Thyrian Florian Schweizer Judith Tillmann |
| author_facet | Kristin Rolke Carolin Rosendahl Klaus Weckbecker Alexander Hanke Michael Wagner Leon Nissen Lara Marie Reimer Stephan Jonas Philipp Schaper Jochen René Thyrian Florian Schweizer Judith Tillmann |
| author_sort | Kristin Rolke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Approximately 1.8 million people with dementia live in Germany and the number is expected to increase in the coming years. Between 360,000 and 440,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. General practitioners (GPs) are often the first point of contact for people with concerns about their memory performance or already noticed symptoms of dementia. However, structural barriers can hinder timely diagnosis by GPs, resulting in diagnoses frequently being made later in the disease’s progression. Tablet-based cognitive testing, carried out by medical assistants (MAs) in GP practices, is being tested in the iCreate feasibility study, and could facilitate detection of dementia, allowing those affected to receive timely treatment and support. However, the acceptance, user experience and perceived benefits and consequences of routine implementation of such a not established procedure remain unclear until now. Methods In this qualitative study, seven GPs, six MAs and eight patients were qualitatively interviewed regarding the acceptance, user experience of the tablet-based procedure and its implications for GP care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using newly developed guidelines, recorded, transcribed and analysed according to Kuckartz and Rädiker using MAXQDA. Results All respondent groups had a positive perception of the digital testing in GP practices. Interviewed MAs welcomed the new responsibilities, and patients gladly accepted the opportunity of cognitive assessment in response to their memory concerns. GPs supported delegating additional tasks to MAs. Patients found the digital testing tasks feasible to complete on the tablet and MAs also had positive experiences using the tablet as test administrators. All groups can generally envision a long-term implementation of the tests in practice, but also noted possible barriers, like the need for additional communication with specialists, limited time resources, and currently insufficient remuneration of cognitive testing. Conclusions The positive user experience and high acceptance of participants indicate that tablet-based cognitive testing in GP settings can be highly feasible and can thus lead to indicated specialist referrals. Consequently, the management of patients exhibiting dementia symptoms should increasingly commence in GP practices, receive adequate funding, and occur in close collaboration with other specialized disciplines. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5cc314ca3cfa4c1b864f03cd5848f52f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2731-4553 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-5cc314ca3cfa4c1b864f03cd5848f52f2025-08-20T03:07:51ZengBMCBMC Primary Care2731-45532025-05-0126111310.1186/s12875-025-02823-zHow do patients, medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet-based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice? - A qualitative studyKristin Rolke0Carolin Rosendahl1Klaus Weckbecker2Alexander Hanke3Michael Wagner4Leon Nissen5Lara Marie Reimer6Stephan Jonas7Philipp Schaper8Jochen René Thyrian9Florian Schweizer10Judith Tillmann11Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, Chair of General Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Witten/Herdecke UniversityInstitute of General Practice and Primary Care, Chair of General Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Witten/Herdecke UniversityInstitute of General Practice and Primary Care, Chair of General Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Witten/Herdecke UniversityDepartment of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital BonnDepartment of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital BonnInstitute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital BonnInstitute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital BonnInstitute for Digital Medicine, University Hospital BonnDepartment of Psychology, Psychological ageing research, University of SiegenDepartment of Psychology, Psychological ageing research, University of SiegenTUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of MunichInstitute of General Practice and Primary Care, Chair of General Practice I and Interprofessional Care, Witten/Herdecke UniversityAbstract Background Approximately 1.8 million people with dementia live in Germany and the number is expected to increase in the coming years. Between 360,000 and 440,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. General practitioners (GPs) are often the first point of contact for people with concerns about their memory performance or already noticed symptoms of dementia. However, structural barriers can hinder timely diagnosis by GPs, resulting in diagnoses frequently being made later in the disease’s progression. Tablet-based cognitive testing, carried out by medical assistants (MAs) in GP practices, is being tested in the iCreate feasibility study, and could facilitate detection of dementia, allowing those affected to receive timely treatment and support. However, the acceptance, user experience and perceived benefits and consequences of routine implementation of such a not established procedure remain unclear until now. Methods In this qualitative study, seven GPs, six MAs and eight patients were qualitatively interviewed regarding the acceptance, user experience of the tablet-based procedure and its implications for GP care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using newly developed guidelines, recorded, transcribed and analysed according to Kuckartz and Rädiker using MAXQDA. Results All respondent groups had a positive perception of the digital testing in GP practices. Interviewed MAs welcomed the new responsibilities, and patients gladly accepted the opportunity of cognitive assessment in response to their memory concerns. GPs supported delegating additional tasks to MAs. Patients found the digital testing tasks feasible to complete on the tablet and MAs also had positive experiences using the tablet as test administrators. All groups can generally envision a long-term implementation of the tests in practice, but also noted possible barriers, like the need for additional communication with specialists, limited time resources, and currently insufficient remuneration of cognitive testing. Conclusions The positive user experience and high acceptance of participants indicate that tablet-based cognitive testing in GP settings can be highly feasible and can thus lead to indicated specialist referrals. Consequently, the management of patients exhibiting dementia symptoms should increasingly commence in GP practices, receive adequate funding, and occur in close collaboration with other specialized disciplines.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02823-zDementiaGP careTimely diagnosisTablet-based testingDigitalisationFamily medicine |
| spellingShingle | Kristin Rolke Carolin Rosendahl Klaus Weckbecker Alexander Hanke Michael Wagner Leon Nissen Lara Marie Reimer Stephan Jonas Philipp Schaper Jochen René Thyrian Florian Schweizer Judith Tillmann How do patients, medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet-based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice? - A qualitative study BMC Primary Care Dementia GP care Timely diagnosis Tablet-based testing Digitalisation Family medicine |
| title | How do patients, medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet-based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice? - A qualitative study |
| title_full | How do patients, medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet-based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice? - A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | How do patients, medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet-based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice? - A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | How do patients, medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet-based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice? - A qualitative study |
| title_short | How do patients, medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet-based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice? - A qualitative study |
| title_sort | how do patients medical assistants and physicians accept and experience tablet based cognitive testing by medical assistants in general practice a qualitative study |
| topic | Dementia GP care Timely diagnosis Tablet-based testing Digitalisation Family medicine |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-025-02823-z |
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