[A descriptive national survey of 166 Alzheimer health networks]

Assess and describe the organization, operation, and aims of Alzheimer health networks in France.

Questionnaire sent by post or handed to physicians in France identified as involved in management of Alzheimer patients by Novartis Pharma sales representatives.

166 networks managing Alzheimer's disease (2/3 primarily gerontological and 1/3 specializing specifically in Alzheimer's). In 61.9% of the cases, the physician supervising the network was a hospital staff physician, often a geriatrician (48%). The other member physicians were essentially general practitioners. Several paramedics and social workers also participated. Most networks were organized as not-for-profit organizations. Financial support most often came from the relevant ministries and the health insurance funds. The number of active cases handled by the networks could not be globally assessed. The operating tools for the networks included membership charters, management guidelines and protocols, and shared medical files, but fewer than 30% of the networks used any one of these. The networks had as their primary objectives training and information, patient follow-up and gerontological coordination. These aims were consistent with the goals they felt that had come closest to attaining, i.e., improving the quality and organization of care, sharing information with and training other health professionals, and providing information to the public. Barely one third of the networks had developed an assessment procedure. Among the obstacles to network operations were the participants' lack of availability, the absence of collaboration between professionals, and financial problems.

Despite the disparity in the quality and exhaustiveness of the data collected, our survey confirmed the diversity and dynamism, but also the lack of formal structure and the difficulties confronted by the Alzheimer networks in France.