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P4‐283: Improving the capacity of local Alzheimer offices to assist volunteers wishing to participate in clinical trials and studies
Author(s) -
Chambers Larry William,
Lowi-Young Mimi,
Benczkowski Debbie,
Harris Megan,
Lusk Elizabeth
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.08.113
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , psychological intervention , clinical trial , public relations , dementia , medicine , medical education , psychology , nursing , political science , paleontology , disease , pathology , biology
in Canada in 2011. The other two reports were based on provincial health services administrative data in Manitoba and British Columbia, respectively, and their estimates were 747,129 and 340,170. The aims of this project were to identify different estimation methods including their strengths and limitations and create a consensus among experts about how to produce estimates as well as appraise reports providing estimates. Methods:Stage I of a two stage approach was to conduct a synthesis of existing literature that outlined the methodological guidelines that should be used when using the two main sources of prevalence and monetary estimates: administrative data bases and community epidemiologic surveys. Stage II brought together national and international thought leaders in epidemiology and health economics to agree on the standards (e.g. assumptions, methods and data sources) to be used when estimating dementia prevalence and monetary costs. Results:Two important determinants of differences in estimates of dementia prevalence are: decisions on what level of severity of dementia to include, that is, should mild cognitive impairment be included and data sources, community surveys and health administration data, will produce different estimates. Dementia prevalence projections require numerous age groupings only available in health administrative data bases. Costs should be calculated from a societal perspective and all age categories. Cost estimates are sensitive to: prevalence estimates, direct costs such as inclusion of different types of housing, number of persons with dementia within each housing type, length of time in each stage of severity of dementia, and what is included as indirect costs. Conclusions: Organizations must acknowledge unavoidable uncertainty associated with estimating both prevalence and costs of dementia.