On 25 February, researchers from the Innovative Health Initiative funded PROMINENT consortium published an article entitled “Deciphering Perspectives: A European survey on clinical decision support tools for dementia and Alzheimer's disease” in the journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. The study explored clinicians' perspectives on clinical decision support systems (CDSS) for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) management. Technological advancements, such as digital monitoring tools, disease-modifying therapies, and artificial intelligence, are improving the clinical management of neurocognitive disorders. Input from end users is crucial in the development process of technology to support effective implementation.
A survey targeted clinicians with field expertise, including neurologists, psychiatrists, and geriatricians, to gather information on their clinical needs. The participants were invited from the European Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium, which includes 65-member centres across Europe. Invitations were sent via institutional email lists containing a survey link. Eighty-four clinicians responded, responses showed that over half had no prior experience with CDSS. The ability to predict AD likelihood was rated the most important diagnostic function, though opinions on predicting amyloid positivity were mixed. Most respondents highlighted treatment eligibility assessment for disease-modifying therapies as a key function, while predicting cognitive and functional decline was seen as the most valuable prognostic feature.
Data accuracy and ease of use were identified as the most critical factors for successful CDSS adoption. The authors highlighted that these findings contribute to the future development of CDSS as part of the project, particularly as disease-modifying therapies gain approval and enter clinical practice. A precise and user-friendly decision support tool could enhance clinical decision-making and efficiency in dementia care. The paper has been published open access and can be read here: https://doi.org/10.1159/000544801