Sporting codes must change to limit dementia risk: RACGP
News
The call was included in a submission for the National Dementia Action Plan, with traumatic head injuries being a recognized risk factor for the disease.
Awareness of the link between concussion and dementia has grown in recent years, with concerns raised about the risks associated with sports such as rugby union, football and AFL.
Sports codes should be changed to help prevent head injuries and reduce the risk of dementia, according to a new RACGP filing to the Department of Health and Elderly Care.
The recommendation is part of college feedback sent in response to an extensive consultation paper intended to serve as the basis for a new National Dementia Action Plan.
The college notes that traumatic brain injury is on the Lancet Commission’s list of 12 potentially modifiable risk factors for the disease, which is a leading killer of the elderly in Australia.
“It emphasizes the importance of participating in sporting activities in a safe manner and wearing protective equipment where head injuries are a possibility,” the filing reads.
According to the RACGP, the measures should be implemented through sports codes to “reduce recurrent head injuries”.
The problem of concussion and repeated head injuries is also the subject of a recent Senate inquiry and has gained prominence in recent years due to concerns about the risks associated with sports such as rugby union, soccer and AFL.
Among the other suggestions in the RACGP filing, which was sent to Secretary of State for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler, is that dementia education should be freely available to GPs.
“GPs are often the first point of contact for people with early signs of dementia,” the document says.
“It is important that GPs are trained to properly recognize early signs of dementia so that they can refer people to a specialist for diagnosis when it is appropriate.”
The training would include guidance on how to identify, treat and communicate with patients and their families about dementia.
However, the RACGP opposes a proposal for “semi-specialised” GPs or nurses to focus on dementia.
“The RACGP does not support micro-certification as professionals should work within their field of practice and seek relevant training to meet the needs of their patient populations,” the filing reads.
“Licensing GPs will create more barriers for patients to access adequate dementia care. For example, the additional time and capacity required to complete courses, particularly for rural GP staff, are often unavailable.
“The RACGP recommends that a better approach would be to make resources on demand and adequate remuneration available to all GPs.”
The college also requested the removal of a reference from the consultation document that suggested using time-tiered Medicare funding arrangements for primary care physicians as a possible solution to offset the time it takes to process cognitive concerns to diagnosis.
“This statement is incorrect because Medicare benefit plan rebates are insufficient to support lengthy consultations,” the filing reads.
Other recommendations from the College include proposals to facilitate better communication between GPs and other healthcare providers, including hospitals and aged care providers, and to improve the availability of respite care.
The filing also underscores the need for healthcare providers to “seamlessly share clinical information in real time, creating a single source of truth medical record accessible to all physicians involved in the care of an elderly person.”
According to RACGP, there should be transparency about the funds that will be made available to support the action plan once it is in place, and about explicit measures and targets.
Last year, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare calculated that there were around 401,300 people living with dementia in the country, while Dementia Australia estimates the disease affects up to 487,500 people directly.
Submissions for the Senate inquiry into concussion and recurrent head injuries in contact sports are open until February 17 and can be shipped via the Australian Parliament website.
The full college submission for the National Dementia Action Plan can be read on the RACGP website.
Sign up below to join the conversation.
Dementia Head Injury National Action Plan Dementia Sports Medicine
newsGP weekly poll
What was your main reaction as a primary care physician to the report from the Strengthening Medicare Task Force?