Expert consensus on communicating tau PET results to persons living with MCI or dementia: Findings from a modified Delphi study

INTRODUCTION: There is interest in incorporating tau imaging into clinical care because it provides unique diagnostic and prognostic information. Yet, clinicians lack guidance on communicating results. METHODS: We conducted a modified Delphi process with practicing US-based expert clinicians in human tau imaging. Expert clinicians were interviewed to elicit input on best practices for communicating tau positron emission tomography (PET) results to cognitively impaired patients. These data were used to develop candidate practices and statements, which expert clinicians rated across two online survey rounds. RESULTS: Eighteen expert clinicians completed interviews and both surveys. They reached consensus on 12 practices - like showing individuals their tau PET scan images - and eight statements for communicating tau PET results - one for tau alone, three for concordant amyloid and tau results, and four for discordant amyloid and tau results - to cognitively impaired patients. DISCUSSION: This study provides novel consensus recommendations for communicating tau PET results to cognitively impaired patients.