A National Survey of Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementias in Italy

Background: Italy has one of the oldest populations in the World and more than one million dementia cases can be estimated at the national level. Objective: The objectives of this national survey include: 1) to report the administrative features and the professional competencies of Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementias (CCDDs); 2) to document possible discrepancies by geographic macro-area; and 3) to identify the features of CCDDs that are associated with a better quality in the provision of care. Methods: A survey of Italian CCDDs was conducted between February 2014 and December 2015. A list of CCDDs was obtained through direct interactions with designed delegates from each Italian region. A questionnaire was defined on five sections concerning: 1) location of the CCDD; 2) access to the CCDD; 3) organization of the CCDD; 4) services and treatments provided; and 5) quantitative data on the activities of the CCDD. Results: Overall, 577 out of the 597 eligible CCDDs returned the completed survey questionnaire (response rate: 96.6%): 260 (45.1%) from Northern Italy, 103 (17.8%) from Central Italy, and 214 (37.1%) from Southern-Islands Italy. More than a third of CCDDs were open only once or twice weekly. A median of 450 (IQR: 200-800) patients regularly attended these services. Most patients (70%) were affected by dementia or mild cognitive impairment (19%). Conclusion: We have provided a snapshot of the organization and activities of CCDDs in Italy and documented existing inequalities in the provision of care.

Automated summary

This study provides insights into the administrative features, service quality, and inequalities in Centers for Cognitive Disorders and Dementias (CCDDs) in Italy. Results reveal that over half of the centers are open only once or twice weekly, with the majority of patients suffering from dementia or mild cognitive impairment.