Evidence-based care of older people with suspected cognitive impairment in general practice: protocol for the IRIS cluster randomised trial

Joanne E McKenzie, Simon D French, Denise A O’Connor, Duncan S Mortimer, Colette J Browning, Grant M Russell, Jeremy M Grimshaw, Martin P Eccles, Jill J Francis, Susan Michie, Kerry Murphy, Fiona Kossenas, Sally E Green, IRIS trial group

Dementia is a common and complex condition. Evidence-based guidelines for the management of people with dementia in general practice exist; however, detection, diagnosis and disclosure of dementia have been identified as potential evidence-practice gaps. Interventions to implement guidelines into practice have had varying success. The use of theory in designing implementation interventions has been limited, but is advocated because of its potential to yield more effective interventions and aid understanding of factors modifying the magnitude of intervention effects across trials. This protocol describes methods of a randomised trial that tests a theory-informed implementation intervention that, if effective, may provide benefits for patients with dementia and their carers.