Scoping exercise for a new book for junior doctors on dementia

new book

 

Recent personal experience has allowed me to witness excellent acute hospital care. But I have also witnessed some examples of how clearly hospitals are potentially unpleasant environments for patients who happen to be living with dementia, and also their closest who accompany for them.

For this reason, I’d like to write a short book on dementia for junior doctors. I intend to publish the book with UCL Press, which will help to ensure high standards in copyediting and other production. I am mindful that hospitals are not the only venue of service provision, training or research (for example) for dementia, and the book should hopefully be of use to junior doctors not in employment, in primary care, in hospices, mental health settings, care homes or elsewhere. I am also, however, mindful of my college (Royal College of Physicians) wishing to train junior doctors able to provide the highest quality in dementia care if they need to.

I don’t wish to write a book focused to help them pass their higher professional exams. I have actually done this for the MRCP as it happens. But I would like to write a book which would be useful as they go about their work on the wards.

The book would be not for profit – but rather be a freely available pdf a valuable online. I was part of a generation which did not have to pay for his university education. Things are totally different now where a medical training can leave people in debt for years.

I am more concerned about publishing a book which is of practical use to patients with dementia, their friends, families and carers (there might be overlap in this). I want the book to be easy to read, not bogged down overly in detail, and be holistic in outlook. Hopefully the book will be useful for junior doctors as they navigate through concerns about the diagnosis itself, or subsequent care and support. For example, due to constraints of employment and training, junior doctors might be unaware of what other health professionals do, or what the needs of carers might be.

Please free to contribute on the form – you can do so anonymously if you so desire.

 

 

2 Responses

  1. Chuck Frichot May 29, 2016 / 8:55 pm

    Dr. Rahman, I believe that with your background you are the perfect person to write this book and it is much needed. I am also an MD, 75 years old with MCI and dementia diagnosed in 2012. The incidence of dementia, Alzheimers and the associated diseases is rising dramatically. The lack of knowledge and understanding by our professional colleagues this area is apparent and real. Your insights and knowledge will be quite helpful to physicians and paramedical personnel to understand that the needs and wishes of dementia patients is important and real. This needs to be addressed. Thanks for your efforts!

  2. Susan Macaulay May 30, 2016 / 1:15 am

    Sounds like a great idea and good luck with the book. I live in Canada and thus am unable to comment with respect to NHS care.

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