RIS ID
138904
Abstract
The Illawarra Division of General Practice (IDGP) has received funding from NSW Health to conduct the GP Dementia Risk Reduction Education Project. This project aims to educate general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs) in general practice settings on the link between hypertension and dementia in the 45 years and over age group and to encourage the application of evidence-based blood pressure screening & management in general practice settings. The program aims to support the implementation of strategies with patients that seek to avoid or minimise the risk of hypertension (and therefore dementia) over the long term. The primary target group for the GP Dementia Risk Reduction Education Project is GPs and PNs/Managers in general practice settings within the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions of local health network, with the secondary target group being their patients aged 45 and over. Along with other practice support activities, the IDGP is planning to run a series of educational events to inform GPs about dementia risk reduction, as well as the links between dementia and hypertension. In addition, the IDGP is planning to address key issues in regards to hypertension screening and management in a number of education workshops. To inform the content of educational workshops and complementary practice support activities, the IDGP has contracted the Centre for Health Initiatives (CHI) to conduct formative research in regards to the key issues in regards to hypertension screening and management that could be addressed within activities for this project. This literature review has been undertaken by CHI due to current difficulties being encountered in gaining the participation of local GPs and PNs in focus groups or interviews to inform the content of the 'GP Dementia Risk Reduction Education Project'.
Publication Details
L. Phillipson & S. Jones, The GP Dementia Risk Reduction Education Project: Literature Review and Formative Research with General Practitioners (Centre for Health Initiatives: University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, 2012).