Table 3.
Answers to the questionnaire items regarding follow-up and control of patients with BPSD
| Items of the questionnaire | 5-point Likert scale |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| strongly agree (1) | moderately agree (2) | neither agree nor disagree (3) | moderately disagree (4) | strongly disagree (5) | |
| #55. Before prescribing an antipsychotic to a patient with dementia, it is necessary to order blood tests that include a hematology profile and blood biochemistry (hepatic, lipid, and renal profile) | 64 (39.8) | 60 (37.3) | 19 (11.8) | 17 (10.6) | 1 (0.6) |
| #56. Before prescribing an antipsychotic to a patient with dementia, an electrocardiogram is required* | 31 (20.0) | 88 (56.8) | 17 (11.0) | 15 (9.7) | 4 (2.6) |
| #57. Before prescribing an antipsychotic to a patient with dementia, a neuroimaging study is necessary as an aid to assess the cerebrovascular risk* | 4 (2.6) | 24 (15.5) | 22 (14.2) | 83 (53.5) | 22 (14.2) |
| #58. In patients with dementia on long-term treatment with an antipsychotic (>12 weeks), vital signs (weight, BMI, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, and heart rate) should be controlled at least every 3 month | 61 (38.1) | 74 (46.3) | 17 (10.6) | 8 (5.0) | 0 |
| #59. In patients with dementia on long-term treatment with an antipsychotic (>12 weeks), the presence of extrapyramidal signs should be monitored at least every 3 months | 74 (46.0) | 69 (42.9) | 7 (4.3) | 11 (6.8) | 0 |
| #60. In patients with dementia on long-term treatment with an antipsychotic (>12 weeks), blood tests that include a hematology profile and blood biochemistry (hepatic, lipid, and renal profiles) should be conducted every 9–12 months | 95 (59.0) | 54 (33.5) | 6 (3.7) | 5 (3.1) | 1 (0.6) |
| #61. In patients with dementia on long-term treatment with an antipsychotic (>12 weeks), it is necessary to monitor prolactin levels at least every 6–9 months* | 11 (7.1) | 52 (33.5) | 47 (30.3) | 34 (21.9) | 11 (7.1) |
| #62. In patients with dementia on long-term treatment with an antipsychotic (>12 weeks), the indication and doses of the drug should be revised at least every 3 months | 85 (52.8) | 58 (36.0) | 7 (4.3) | 11 (6.8) | 0 |
Numbers of the items are those of the study questionnaire (online suppl. material). Percentages in parenthesis. BPSD, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. * Agreement/disagreement achieved on the second round.