BACKGROUND: Primary care providers routinely evaluate older adults and are thus in a position to first detect symptoms and signs of @entity195 . In urban areas, diagnostic or management difficulties may be referred to specialists; however, in rural areas, specialists may not be available. The Clinician Partners Program (CPP) was initiated to enhance rural health providers' ability in the diagnosis of @entity303 and care, and to increase research recruitment into @entity303 research studies of @entity1 from rural communities. METHODS: The CPP is a 3-day "miniresidency" of didactic, observational, and skill-based teaching techniques. @entity1 completed pretests and posttests evaluating @entity303 knowledge, confidence in providing care, and practice behaviors. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2009, 146 health care professionals with a mean age of 45.7  10.8 years attended the CPP; 79.2% were white, 58.2% were @entity1 , and 58% of @entity1 had been in practice for more than 10 years. Posttests showed an improvement in knowledge and confidence for diagnosis and treatment and increased the use of @entity303 screening tools. Rural research participation in an urban @entity195 Research Center increased 52% over the pre-CPP period. CONCLUSIONS: The following primary goals were accomplished: increased knowledge and confidence, changed practice habits, and enhanced research recruitment. Educational programs such as the CPP may be beneficial for increasing access to accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment for @entity195 while also enhancing research participation.

Improving physician awareness of XXXX and enhancing recruitment: the Clinician Partners Program.

@entity303 :: ('MESH:D003704', 'Disease') :: ['dementia'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'women', 'Participants'] @entity195 :: ('MESH:D000544', 'Disease') :: ['Alzheimer Disease', 'Alzheimer disease']
@entity195 :: (MESH:D000544,Disease) :: ['Alzheimer disease']
