An Evaluation of Community Pharmacists? Knowledge and Experience regarding Dementia with Lewy Bodies : A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

[Abstract] Objective: Owing to inconspicuous memory impairment during early disease stage, patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are often diagnosed with mental disorders according to depressive symptoms and visual hallucinations. Severe sensitivity to antipsychotic agents, a DLB characteristic, increases mortality. Herein, we reviewed current challenges and approaches for early DLB detection and appropriate drug use by evaluating pharmacists' ability to recognition of DLB and their level of involvement in medication consultation with dementia patients. Designs: This is a cross-sectional study in Japan. Methods: We provided an anonymous self-administered survey questionnaire to 372community pharmacists. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test (attributes, recognition, and experiences with medication consultation), and content analysis (free description of drug hypersensitivity) were used for data analysis. Results: The recognition rates for questions on DLB symptoms were as follows: visual hallucinations, 76%; delusion, 63%; other symptoms, including those categorized as core clinical features, such as fluctuating cognition, and REM sleep behavior disorder,