Comparative analysis of the level of knowledge and demand for education about depression over the last 10 years

Abstract

Introduction: It is estimated that currentlydepression affects at least 350 million peopleworldwide.Research aim: To see if there has been an increasein the knowledge and need for education amongadults about depression between 2013 and 2022.Materials and methods: The study was carried outon a group of 200 people in 2013 and 749 people in2022.Results: 69% in 2013 and 35.4% people in 2022believed that depression is a health issue of thePolish society. 83% of people in 2013 and 94.9% in2022 believed incidence of depression increased. In2013 depression was diagnosed in 8.5% ofrespondents, and in 2022 - in 30.6%. In general, therespondents from 2022 listed 29, and the ones from2013 - 17 different factors that may affect thedevelopment of depression. 84% of the respondentsfrom 2013 stated that the main symptoms ofdepression are sadness, despondency, inability tofeel joy, while 93.9% of the respondents from 2022mentioned reduced activity, apathy, slowdown, aversion to activity. 31.5% individuals from 2013and 29.1% from 2022 believed that the symptoms ofdepression are not different in women and men. In2013 76.5%, and in 2022 - 67.6% of respondentsclaimed that depression is treated with medicationsand with therapy. The ones who believed depressioncan be treated constituted 78% of respondents in2013 and 37.9% in 2022.Conclusions: The examined group most oftenconsidered depression as a serious condition whichhinders normal functioning, declared their positiveattitude towards people suffering from depression,however, they thought that it is treated as anembarrassing condition and that people withdepression are disrespected. In 2022, respondentswere diagnosed with depression significantly moreoften and showed greater knowledge in most issuesrelated to depression. Knowledge about depressionin 2013 and 2022 was considered by mostrespondents as intermediate.