Older adults’ attitudes and motivations towards learning about personal dementia risk and their willingness to make changes to improve their health in primary care settings

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective This study assessed older adults’ preferences, attitudes, and motivations to understand and change their individual risk for developing dementia via screening in primary care settings. Method Eighty-six community-dwelling older adults (aged 60–91 years, M = 74.03, SD = 6.83) completed measures of behavioural intent to undergo dementia risk screening, response efficacy (i.e., belief that screening is useful), negative affective responses (e.g., risk screening results making individuals more scared about the future), motivation to change risk-related behaviours, level of social support, depression, and anxiety symptomatology. Results Overall, participants reported positive attitudes towards dementia risk screening and risk reduction. Two ordinal logistic regressions indicated that response efficacy was a significant predictor of behavioural intent to undergo dementia risk screening, whereas self-efficacy and family history of dementia were significant predictors of motivation to change risk-related behaviours. Barriers included lack of information, motivation, and self-control. Facilitators included access to formal and informal supports, and engagement with social and non-social activities. Conclusions Dementia risk screening and risk reduction in primary care may be more desirable for those with a family history of dementia, high response efficacy, and high self-efficacy. Addressing barriers such as lack of information, motivation, and self-control may improve older adults’ engagement with dementia risk reduction.