Interpersonal communication may improve equity in dementia risk education.

Abstract

Encouraging people to adopt life-long habits that reduce dementia risk is necessary to manage the growing global prevalence of this condition and is, therefore, a global health priority. Current initiatives promoting risk-reducing behaviour primarily attract participants from a limited range of backgrounds, even if widely available. This may inadvertently increase health inequities, as the people who are most likely to develop dementia are the people who are least involved in risk-reduction initiatives. Interpersonal communication can effectively disseminate health messages to demographically diverse populations and may, therefore, broaden the reach of dementia risk-reduction information. Coding reliability thematic analysis was used to categorise reports of information sharing provided by participants from one global online dementia risk education initiative, the Preventing Dementia Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC. These reports of information sharing were provided in response to the feedback question: "If you have already applied your MOOC learning, please tell us how." Information was reportedly shared with a wide range of people, including those from demographic groups that are under-represented among Preventing Dementia MOOC participants. Information about specific risk factors was shared, along with general information about the course and/or dementia risk reduction. Some participants also reported that the people they shared information with were initiating risk-reducing behaviours. Interpersonal communication has the potential to disseminate dementia risk reduction information to, and promote behaviour change among, a broad group of people at risk of dementia, thereby increasing equity in dementia risk education.