“I know now that it's something that you can do something about”: Deductive thematic analysis of experiences at an arts-based dementia risk reduction exhibit

Abstract

Dementia is one of the leading global health crises. Despite the devastating impacts of the illness, general population knowledge pertaining to risk reduction is still limited. Previous research on the impact of dementia risk reduction campaigns has largely focused on awareness rather than behaviour change. Our research introduced an arts-based exhibit to address dementia modifiability, aiming to enhance effectiveness by providing an immersive experience for altering adults’ perceptions of risk reduction and lifestyle behaviours. Interviews were conducted with adults (n = 38 [13 male, 25 female]) who attended an interactive dementia awareness and risk reduction exhibit. Data was analysed using deductive thematic analysis within the Health Belief Model framework to determine key mechanisms of behaviour change. Four key themes encompassing exhibit significance and factors underlying behaviour change were identified. Participants recounted positive experiences, particularly being engaged by the artistic aspects of the exhibit, and recorded heightened engagement in behaviours supporting dementia risk reduction post-exhibit. Areas for improvement included the need for a take-home summary and variation in formats. Participants described prior encounters with dementia and their age as factors which influenced their engagement with dementia risk reduction behaviour, with younger participants reporting lesser engagement with risk reduction information. Our research found that arts-based educational initiatives have the potential to advance public understanding and promote behavioural changes for dementia risk reduction. Our study recommends enhancing the impact of future interventions by employing innovative formats and tailoring them to varied audiences, with a specific emphasis on engaging younger individuals.