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Timelines in the diagnostic evaluation of people with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) – a 20 year review. Can we do better?

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Timelines in the diagnostic evaluation of people with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) – a 20 year review. Can we do better? / Mitchell, John Douglas; Callagher, Pauline ; Gardham, Joyce et al.
In: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Vol. 11, No. 6, 2010, p. 537-541.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Mitchell, JD, Callagher, P, Gardham, J, Mitchell, C, Dixon, MP, Addison-Jones, R, Bennett, W & O'Brien, M 2010, 'Timelines in the diagnostic evaluation of people with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) – a 20 year review. Can we do better?', Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 537-541. https://doi.org/10.3109/17482968.2010.495158

APA

Mitchell, J. D., Callagher, P., Gardham, J., Mitchell, C., Dixon, M. P., Addison-Jones, R., Bennett, W., & O'Brien, M. (2010). Timelines in the diagnostic evaluation of people with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) – a 20 year review. Can we do better? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 11(6), 537-541. https://doi.org/10.3109/17482968.2010.495158

Vancouver

Mitchell JD, Callagher P, Gardham J, Mitchell C, Dixon MP, Addison-Jones R et al. Timelines in the diagnostic evaluation of people with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) – a 20 year review. Can we do better? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 2010;11(6):537-541. Epub 2010 Jun 22. doi: 10.3109/17482968.2010.495158

Author

Mitchell, John Douglas ; Callagher, Pauline ; Gardham, Joyce et al. / Timelines in the diagnostic evaluation of people with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) – a 20 year review. Can we do better?. In: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 2010 ; Vol. 11, No. 6. pp. 537-541.

Bibtex

@article{0c105d88bf3e44afb0ed57dec319b786,
title = "Timelines in the diagnostic evaluation of people with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) – a 20 year review. Can we do better?",
abstract = "This paper examines diagnostic timelines for people suspected of having ALS/MND over a 20-year period, evaluates the impact of a {\textquoteleft}fast track{\textquoteright} diagnostic process and discusses typical causes of diagnostic delay. Key diagnostic timelines (dates of first symptom, diagnosis and death) were reviewed for people diagnosed between 1989 and 2008. Patients evaluated through a fast-track diagnostic process and those investigated through traditional neurology clinics were compared. Typical causes of diagnostic delay were investigated. Results showed that diagnostic timelines have been surprisingly consistent over this 20-year period. Time from first symptom to diagnosis hovered around 12 months, with the diagnosis typically being made around the midpoint (50% of total disease duration elapsed) of the disease pathway. The introduction of a fast-track process has not to date affected overall performance but has shortened times from referral to diagnosis. Diagnostic delays appear to be associated with clinical complexity and delays in referral, both within primary and secondary care services. In conclusion, more widespread implementation of fast-track processes could potentially reduce diagnostic delays. Educational interventions among health care professionals both in primary and secondary care may also help shorten diagnostic pathways.",
keywords = "Motor neuron disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, diagnosis, diagnostic pathway",
author = "Mitchell, {John Douglas} and Pauline Callagher and Joyce Gardham and Catriona Mitchell and Dixon, {Mandy Patricia} and Robert Addison-Jones and Wendy Bennett and Mary O'Brien",
year = "2010",
doi = "10.3109/17482968.2010.495158",
language = "English",
volume = "11",
pages = "537--541",
journal = "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis",
issn = "1471-180X",
publisher = "Taylor and Francis Ltd.",
number = "6",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Timelines in the diagnostic evaluation of people with suspected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) – a 20 year review. Can we do better?

AU - Mitchell, John Douglas

AU - Callagher, Pauline

AU - Gardham, Joyce

AU - Mitchell, Catriona

AU - Dixon, Mandy Patricia

AU - Addison-Jones, Robert

AU - Bennett, Wendy

AU - O'Brien, Mary

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - This paper examines diagnostic timelines for people suspected of having ALS/MND over a 20-year period, evaluates the impact of a ‘fast track’ diagnostic process and discusses typical causes of diagnostic delay. Key diagnostic timelines (dates of first symptom, diagnosis and death) were reviewed for people diagnosed between 1989 and 2008. Patients evaluated through a fast-track diagnostic process and those investigated through traditional neurology clinics were compared. Typical causes of diagnostic delay were investigated. Results showed that diagnostic timelines have been surprisingly consistent over this 20-year period. Time from first symptom to diagnosis hovered around 12 months, with the diagnosis typically being made around the midpoint (50% of total disease duration elapsed) of the disease pathway. The introduction of a fast-track process has not to date affected overall performance but has shortened times from referral to diagnosis. Diagnostic delays appear to be associated with clinical complexity and delays in referral, both within primary and secondary care services. In conclusion, more widespread implementation of fast-track processes could potentially reduce diagnostic delays. Educational interventions among health care professionals both in primary and secondary care may also help shorten diagnostic pathways.

AB - This paper examines diagnostic timelines for people suspected of having ALS/MND over a 20-year period, evaluates the impact of a ‘fast track’ diagnostic process and discusses typical causes of diagnostic delay. Key diagnostic timelines (dates of first symptom, diagnosis and death) were reviewed for people diagnosed between 1989 and 2008. Patients evaluated through a fast-track diagnostic process and those investigated through traditional neurology clinics were compared. Typical causes of diagnostic delay were investigated. Results showed that diagnostic timelines have been surprisingly consistent over this 20-year period. Time from first symptom to diagnosis hovered around 12 months, with the diagnosis typically being made around the midpoint (50% of total disease duration elapsed) of the disease pathway. The introduction of a fast-track process has not to date affected overall performance but has shortened times from referral to diagnosis. Diagnostic delays appear to be associated with clinical complexity and delays in referral, both within primary and secondary care services. In conclusion, more widespread implementation of fast-track processes could potentially reduce diagnostic delays. Educational interventions among health care professionals both in primary and secondary care may also help shorten diagnostic pathways.

KW - Motor neuron disease

KW - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

KW - diagnosis

KW - diagnostic pathway

U2 - 10.3109/17482968.2010.495158

DO - 10.3109/17482968.2010.495158

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

SP - 537

EP - 541

JO - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

JF - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

SN - 1471-180X

IS - 6

ER -