University of Tasmania, Australia

Improving dementia knowledge is important because dementia is under-diagnosed in Australia, with many elderly people never receiving a formal diagnosis. The reasons why dementia diagnosis rates are low are reasonably well understood and include a reported lack of confidence among GPs to diagnose early dementia, a concurrent lack of the time required to observe patients in order to make a firm diagnosis, and a feeling among many GPs that the early diagnosis or any diagnosis of dementia is not important (due to the incurable nature of most dementia).

Key issues addressed in the education program include types of dementia, the five domains of dementia, why making a diagnosis of dementia is important, and how to diagnose dementia. Differential diagnosis of dementia, best practice referrals, and services available to support people with dementia and their carers will also be discussed.