Reaching the unengaged: Conversations about dementia risk reduction

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe Preventing Dementia Massive Open Online Course (PD‐MOOC) aims to increase public knowledge of dementia risk factors and promote risk‐reducing behaviour. This course attracted 147,000 enrolments from 2016 to 2020. Men and people with low levels of education are under‐represented in the PD‐MOOC. This study investigated whether members of these under‐engaged groups receive dementia risk information “second‐hand” from close contacts who undertake the PD‐MOOC.MethodIn May 2020, first time PD‐MOOC enrolees from Tasmania, Australia, provided qualitative and quantitative data about the people they felt very close or somewhat close to. Participants were retrospectively asked about conversations in which information from the PD‐MOOC was discussed. Two‐proportions z‐tests were used to determine the extent to which “second‐hand” information reached under‐engaged groups.ResultParticipants (n = 37) provided information about 799 close contacts; networks ranged in size from 8 to 45 people. Participants reported sharing dementia risk information with between 0 and 100% of their close contacts. Overall, information was shared with 437 close contacts. The proportion of men with whom dementia risk information was shared was significantly higher than the proportion of men directly receiving such information via the May 2020 PD‐MOOC (24% vs 15%, p<0.001). The proportion of people with a low level of education (less than high school completion) with whom dementia risk information was shared was significantly higher than the proportion of people with a low level of education directly receiving such information via the May 2020 PD‐MOOC (12% vs 1%, p<0.001). Some participants reported that some of the close contacts with whom they discussed dementia risk were unlikely to engage in dementia risk education themselves: “[my friend] said ‘…well you can tell me about it … after you've done it’ ‐ they weren't prepared to do the course”.ConclusionInterpersonal conversations increase the reach of dementia risk information, reaching people and demographic groups that are less likely to engage with interventions like the PD‐MOOC. Interpersonal conversations about dementia risk reduction could potentially be promoted to help reach important target populations for dementia prevention.