Abstract
BACKGROUND: Improved dementia identification is a global health priority, and general practitioners (GPs) are often the first point of contact for people with concerns about their cognition. However, GPs often express uncertainty in using assessment tools and the evidence based on which tests are most accurate in identifying dementia is unclear. In particular, there is little certainty around how the accuracy of available brief cognitive assessments compares within a clinical family practice setting.Grounded in existing brief cognitive assessment evidence, we will compare the diagnostic test accuracy of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) to the General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) against the best available reference standard when used within a family practice setting. METHODS: We will employ robust systematic review methods to assess studies of diagnostic accuracy where both the MMSE and GPCOG have been evaluated as direct comparisons, i.e. within the same study population. This approach will enable us to minimise between-study heterogeneity, to eliminate the risk of bias due to confounding and increase the opportunity to make clinically useful and useable comparisons of diagnostic accuracy across both the MMSE and GPCOG. This systematic review will be conducted using a pragmatic search strategy, refining searches that build upon studies identified as part of our overview of systematic reviews of the diagnostic accuracy of brief cognitive assessments for identifying dementia in primary care. DISCUSSION: Through this systematic review, we aim to improve existing evidence on how the diagnostic accuracy of MMSE and GPCOG compares when used to identify dementia within the family practice setting. We also aim to make clinical practice recommendations based upon the variations in diagnostic accuracy identified between the MMSE and GPCOG.
DOI
10.1186/s41512-017-0014-1
Publication Date
2017-12-01
Publication Title
Diagnostic and Prognostic Research
Volume
1
Issue
1
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
ISSN
2397-7523
Embargo Period
2024-11-19
Recommended Citation
Hunt, H., Van Kampen, S., Takwoingi, Y., & et al. (2017) 'The comparative diagnostic accuracy of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the General Practitioner assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) for identifying dementia in primary care: a systematic review protocol', Diagnostic and Prognostic Research, 1(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41512-017-0014-1
Comments
Open Access