Comparing Short Cognitive Screening Instruments in an Outreach Memory Clinic in Primary Care

Rónán O’Caoimh (), Sheena Cadoo, Brian Daly and D. William Molloy
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Rónán O’Caoimh: Health Research Board Clinical Research Facility, University College Cork, Mercy University Hospital, T12 WE28 Cork City, Ireland
Sheena Cadoo: Memory Resource Room, Mallow Primary Healthcare Centre, Mallow, P51 Y8EC County Cork, Ireland
Brian Daly: Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, T12 XH60 Cork City, Ireland
D. William Molloy: Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, University College Cork, St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, T12 XH60 Cork City, Ireland

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Few studies have investigated the possibility of offering outreach from hospital-based memory clinic services to primary care. Such models could potentially improve access to specialised mental healthcare. We report on the reliability and validity of a pilot cognitive screening pathway in general practice (GP) in Ireland. Consecutive patients with memory complaints attending two primary care clinics were screened and diagnosed clinically by a physician-run memory clinic in GP. Follow-up in secondary care confirmed the diagnosis. Inter-rater reliability (IRR) and diagnostic validity of the Quick Mild Cognitive Impairment (Q mci ) screen was compared to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG). In all, 63 patients, 31 with subjective memory complaints (SMC), 16 with mild cognitive impairment and 16 with dementia were screened. Their median age was 73 and 67% were female. The IRR of the Q mci screen between GP and clinic was excellent (r = 0.89). The Q mci was more accurate than the GPCOG in identifying cognitive impairment; the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.95 versus 0.80 ( p = 0.008). The Q mci and MoCA had similar accuracy, with an AUC of 0.95 versus 0.91 ( p = 0.117), respectively, but was significantly shorter ( p < 0.001), suggesting it may be a useful instrument in this setting. Based on these results, a definitive study is now planned to examine the benefits and challenges of utilizing these instruments as part of establishing an outreach memory clinic service in primary care.

Keywords: mental health; memory clinic; cognitive screening; primary healthcare; dementia; mild cognitive impairment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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