A Pragmatic Trial of the TabCAT Brain Health Assessment for the Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Primary Care
University of California, San Francisco
Summary
Efficient and user-friendly paradigms to detect cognitive impairment, including dementia are needed in primary care. The TabCAT Brain Health Assessment accurately detects cognitive impairment via an appealing tablet interface with automated scoring and EMR integration. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of the paradigm on detection rates and other brain health outcomes via a pragmatic cluster randomized trial in 26 Kaiser Southern California primary care clinics.
Description
Twenty-six Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) primary care clinics will be randomized in two waves to receive either the TabCAT-BHA paradigm or usual care. Clinics have been matched in pairs by number of providers, median panel size, the racial/ethnic makeup of the patient panel, baseline rates of cognitive impairment diagnosis, rates of telehealth encounters, and percentage of members who are 65+ in the practice. The trial will be conducted over two 18-month waves, with six intervention practices in the first wave and seven intervention practices starting in the second wave. All pat…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient with at least one encounter at an intervention clinic during the intervention period * Age 18+ (limited to 65+ for primary analyses) Exclusion Criteria: * Patients under the age of 18.
Interventions
- OtherTabCAT Brain Health Assessment Clinical Pathway
Primary care providers concerned that their patients are exhibiting signs of cognitive decline will refer them to clinical associates who will then perform the TabCAT-BHA tablet-based test. The TabCAT-BHA paradigm comprises 7-10 minutes of tablet-based testing and an optional 3-minute self-administered informant survey captures behavioral symptoms and change from baseline. The results are available to the PCP in the EMR along with turnkey guidance to evaluate for reversible causes, identify and involve a care partner, make and disclose diagnosis, provide community and educational resources, and make medical referrals as appropriate. Nursing support is available to support the PCP in making the diagnosis and to consult to the family via telephone post-diagnosis to address immediate care needs.
Location
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & EvaluationPasadena, California