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Standardized Note Template Improves Screening of Firearm Access and Driving Among Veterans With Dementia

Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, ns3{at}medicine.wisc.edu

Carey E. Gleason, PhD

Department of Medicine, Section of Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Public Health, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center

Gail Gunter-Hunt, MSW

Public Health, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Cynthia M. Carlsson, MD, MS

Department of Medicine, Section of Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Public Health, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center

Michael Siebers, MD

Department of Medicine, Section of Geriatrics and Gerontology (CEG, CMC, MS), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center

Little is known about screening used in clinical practice to assess driving and firearm safety among patients with dementia. A case-controlled study was performed, including 22 patients with dementia seen in a geriatric evaluation and management clinic and 22 matched patients with dementia seen in a memory assessment clinic. Data about prevalence of firearm use and driving were obtained. In geriatric evaluation and management clinic, 57.9% of patients had dementia, compared with 71.0% in memory assessment clinic, and more patients were diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia in memory assessment clinic (P = .005). In geriatric evaluation and management clinic, 65% of patients had driving screening compared with 100% in memory assessment clinic (P = .07). Four percent in geriatric evaluation and management clinic were screened for firearm access versus 100% in memory assessment clinic (P < .001). In memory assessment clinic, 31.8% had firearms access and 50% were driving. Many patients continued to drive and have access to firearms. The use of templates for the progress note was effective in increasing the screening rate.

Key Words: firearms • driving • dementia • screening • computerized medical records

This version was published on August 1, 2008

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias®, Vol. 23, No. 4, 313-318 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1533317508317061


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