Needs Assessment Study in a Dementia Colombian Population

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundDementia is a public health problem. In Colombia, there is no policy for dementia patients or their caregivers. Patients with dementia have unidentified needs and this lack of knowledge has contributed that a formal policy has not been raised. The recognition and identification of the needs facilitate the planning, provision, and evaluation of health services, and constitutes the first stage for the implementation of services or care plans. If the Colombian State wants to formulate policies that protect the population with dementia it should conduct studies that contemplate all dimensions and guarantee the social inclusion and equity of the affected population. A needs assessment study is required that includes the identification and analysis of physical, social, patrimonial, legal, access and psychological needs of patients with early stages of dementia and their caregivers.ObjectiveTo identify and analyze the needs of Colombian patients with mild dementia and their relatives with the purpose of contributing to the design of the health policy strategy for dementia, from a perspective of social justice and equity.MethodExploratory sequential mixed methods design. We will include Colombian adults with a mild dementia diagnosis, their caregivers and health professionals. We will employ a structured interview, an assessment of quality of life, psychiatric and medical comorbidities and we will employ case studies and focus groups to identify categories and interactions of the study problem. In the second stage, we propose to employ a needs assessment methodology and a mixed method using triangulation to evaluate the burden of known and unknown needs. Then, a theoretical analysis of inequities will be carried out stratifying by the insurance regime and city.ResultThe results will be analyzed in light of the theory of recognition as social justice.ConclusionWe will recommend a proposal for the design of the strategy in health for this population.