Objective: In Brazil, psychogeriatrics is a relatively new discipline. Although resources in private practice are comparable to first world health care settings, these exist side by side with public health services where resources are scarce. This study focuses on the roles new technologies (genetic testing, new imaging technologies, etc.) play in the lives of families with a member suffering from AD in a Brazilian urban setting. Our primary goal is to evaluate whether there is a differential access to technological advances and if so what are the consequences of this difference for families and caregivers of AD patients.
Design: In the first part of this research project, we are interviewing health professionals who work in a private setting and health professionals who work in the public health system. A sample of patients treated by these professionals and their family members are also being interviewed. The data collected includes these interviews, demographic data, and data based on economics and public health policy regarding the availability of resources for these two populations of users. The analysis takes into consideration the differential access and use of new technologies in psychogeriatrics in Brazil. A second point addressed is how health professionals administer the available resources and how the population deals with these differences.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study involving two groups of health professionals, patients and families. Group 1 works or is a recipient of health services in the private health system whereas group 2 works or receives health services in public institutions. Informal conversation with persons involved in caregiving, participant observation in health institutions, scientific articles and articles in the media are being added as material for analysis.
Results: Genetic testing has very little significance in Brazil. The data collected in this initial part suggests that unequal access to technological resources does not lead to a problem since most patients do not know about their existence. Besides that, for many doctors a two-class system of psychogeriatric care has been incorporated and is not further questioned. Our data also suggests a possible overuse of diagnostic procedures in private practice but this preliminary finding warrants further investigation.
Conclusion: More studies are needed about the impact of new technologies on the lives of AD families.
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