Dementia-related Knowledge Research Articles

Curricular initiatives for dementia education

ABSTRACT Dementia education can be an effective pedagogical tool to improve student perceptions of dementia and dementia care. In this article, we describe four evidence-based educational initiatives implemented in an undergraduate and graduate level social work course. Students participated in an informational presentation on dementia, a dementia simulation, and a virtual discussion board. They also conducted an interview with a person living with dementia and their caregiver. Twenty-nine students completed a pre- and postsurvey on their (a) prior contact with individual(s) living with dementia, (b) dementia-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy, and (c) willingness to support individuals living with dementia, and 43 students participated in a focus group. Comparison of pre- and post-participation scores indicated improvements in knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy. Content analyses of focus group responses and discussion posts generated themes that shed light on students’ (a) knowledge gains at cognitive and affective levels, (b) attitudes toward future practice in dementia care, (c) perceived value of interprofessional practice, and (d) perceptions of dementia related learning activities. Despite limitations in implementation and evaluation, the curricular initiatives provide a template to train future health professionals in dementia care, a vital area of practice.

Dementia-literate informal caregivers: An evolutionary concept analysis

Previous concept analyses have not conceptualized an evidence-based definition of the concept of dementia literacy. Rodger’s evolutionary method was used to conceptualize dementia literacy among informal caregivers of persons living with dementia (PLWD) in the United States. A comprehensive search across four databases and a thorough review process resulted in 22 relevant articles between 2011 and 2023. Dementia literacy is defined as the ability to acquire dementia-related knowledge to inform decision-making, self-identify gaps in caregiving support, and secure access to necessary resources to enable long-term care, all while maintaining relationships with an interdisciplinary team of specialized providers. The nursing profession can promote dementia literacy by recognizing the needs of racial and ethnic groups, the complexity of culture and language, and being mindful of potential implicit bias towards informal caregivers who are working diligently to be prepared and proactive for PLWD.

The effect of educational intervention based on the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold extended model on the process of caregiving for people with dementia.

This study examined the impacts of an educational intervention based on the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) extended model on caregiving for people with dementia (PWD). This study was conducted in Isfahan, Iran, from May 2016 to June 2018, with 38 caregivers of PWD as participants assigned to an intervention group. Data were collected using a multi-sectional, researcher-developed questionnaire that recorded the demographic characteristics, and measured the dementia-related knowledge and caregiving practices of the participants. The questionnaire and an educational program were designed in three parts according to the educational needs of caregivers to enhance their practice, skills, and ability to handle challenging behaviours in PWD. The questionnaire's face validity was confirmed by expert review, and its reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha coefficient (knowledge section, 0.838; practice section, 0.802). The sampling method used was convenience sampling, and none of the caregivers refused to receive the educational content. Therefore, the evaluation of the program lacks a randomized controlled group. To tailor the intervention program to the participants' needs, the educational content was based on the PLST extended model. The mean scores for knowledge and practice increased following the intervention (P < 0.05). An educational intervention, using the PLST extended care model, thus produced positive impacts in improving the knowledge and practice of caregivers of PWD. Educating caregivers with the PLST extended model, with a specific focus on the cultural and religious backgrounds of societies, is recommended.

Effect of a dementia friends information session on health professional students’ attitudes and knowledge related to dementia

Despite the growing prevalence of dementia, few models of training for health professional students on this topic have been formally evaluated or widely disseminated. The Dementia Friends (DF) initiative is part of a global movement to improve the way people think, act, and talk about dementia. The impact of these sessions on the dementia-related knowledge and attitudes of health professional trainees has not been adequately assessed. Health professional students (medicine n = 70, physical therapy n = 30, pharmacy n = 28) participated in one-hour DF information sessions, offered in-person or via videoconference. The Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS), a validated 20-item questionnaire, was administered before and after each session. Pre- and post-session DAS scores were compared using a paired t-test. Students’ dementia-friendly action plans were analyzed qualitatively. Of 128 students, 102 (80%) completed both the pre- and post-DAS. The mean DAS score increased significantly from 105.8 (12.3) to 120.8 (10.5) following the DF sessions (p < .001). Students’ dementia-friendly action plans included improving communication, promoting quality of life, and learning more about dementia. The DF information session model significantly increased the knowledge and positive attitudes of health professional students toward those living with dementia. Further use and study of this model is appropriate.

Suggestions of Slovenian Students on Ways to Acquire Dementia-Related Knowledge

Objectives: Although the number of people with dementia is growing due to the aging population, knowledge of dementia among adolescents is unknown, as are their suggestions for how to acquire knowledge. Aim: To determine the knowledge of dementia among students and to identify their suggestions on to acquire dementia-related knowledge. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in order to determine the knowledge of dementia among students of non-medical high schools in Slovenia. The gender comparison of the knowledge and proposals for a way of educating were obtained. Results: A total of 1128 students (770 girls and 348 boys) aged 14 -19 participated in this study. The results indicated that of 20 claims of dementia, participants were on average able to answer 71.5% correctly (M = 14.30; SD = 2.56), girls better than boy (p&lt;0.05), students with relative with dementia better than others (p&lt;0.05). Proposals for ways of future dementia education did not differ between the sexes (p&gt;0.05). Both, girls and boys in the same percentage indicated future priority learning methods namely: use of the Internet, learning in school lessons and from books and textbooks, learning from medical staff. Conclusions: Organizers and providers of dementia education for adolescents should organize as much education as possible via the Internet. Further research on the most appropriate form of dementia education among high school students is recommended.

Resilience in a Greek Sample of Informal Dementia Caregivers: Familism as a Culture-Specific Factor.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and the factors associated with resilience among a sample of 118 Greek informal caregivers (78.8% females, mean age=58.9, SD=11.6) of people with dementia. Face-to-face interviews assessed caregivers' socio-demographics, resilience, quality of life, burden, familism, and perception of services and their proxy assessments of the cognitive functioning, functional activity, and behavioral problems of people with dementia. Moderate levels of resilience were reported by 58.6% of the caregivers. Dementia-related knowledge and higher levels of familism were associated with higher levels of resilience, whereas higher frequency of dealing with behavioral problems was associated with lower resilience. Effective interventions to strengthen Greek dementia caregivers' resilience should be culture-specific, targeting both behavioral problems and caregivers' intrapersonal facilitators (i.e, dementia-related knowledge) and interpersonal interactions (i.e., familism). Healthcare professionals may have a key role in building caregivers' resilience and contribute to implications for policy and practice.

The Presence of Ageism Among Slovenian Adolescents Surveyed About Dementia-Related Knowledge

Objectives: Due to the significant increase in the number of people aged over 65, both dementia and ageism are on the rise in Slovenia. Without data on knowledge of dementia and the occurrence of ageism towards old people among adolescents, it is difficult to introduce measures to reduce and prevent them. Aim: To asses dementia-related knowledge with a focus on comparison between female and male adolescents and whether any stereotype about the elderly is expressed among them. Methods: 1128 students (aged 14 -19) from non-health related secondary schools in Slovenia completed the survey. In the questionnaire with twenty claims of dementia, one contained stereotype: »Impaired memory is normal part of getting old«. Results: Responses to claims of dementia ranged from 4 to 20 points, with participants responding to an average of 71.5% of claims correctly (M = 14.30; SD = 2.56). Girls showed better knowledge of dementia than boys (M = 14.63; SD = 2.36 vs. M = 13.63; SD = 2.82; p&lt;0.05). Suprisingly, with the stereotypical and discriminatory claim: »Impaired memory is normal part of getting old« as many as 86.0 % of girls and 81.9 % of boys (p&gt;0.05) agreed. Conclusions: Dementia-related knowledge is satisfactory, but lower in male than female adolescents. The research results point to the need of introducing gender-specific formal and non-formal education on dementia. Furthermore, the results of our study show that most adolescents of both genders already think stereotypically about the elderlies, which can lead to ageism. The area should be researched further.

Gender Differences in Dementia Knowledge among Slovenian Adolescents

Objectives: Current evidence suggests that attitudes towards people with dementia may develop at a young age. Therefore, it is important that adolescents of both sexes are already informed about dementia as much as possible. Aim: In the group of adolescents to determine whether exist gender differences in knowledge of dementia and desired resources for further education. Methods: 1128 students (aged 14 -19) from non-health related secondary schools in Slovenia completed the dementia-related knowledge survey. Results: Of 20 claims of dementia, participants were on average able to answer 71.5% correctly (M = 14.30; SD = 2.56). Boys showed poorer knowledge regarding ten claims of dementia compared to the girls (p0.05). Conclusions: Considering the dementia knowledge differences between male and female adolescents evident in this study, education may be more effective by being gender-specific.

A departing mystery: dementia related knowledge and attitude among dental professionals in Chennai

Background: Improving dentist’s knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of dementia is important in the formation of dementia-friendly communities. The aim of the study was to evaluate dentist’s knowledge and attitudes of dementia. The purpose of this study was to examine dentist’s, interns, postgraduate’s knowledge and attitudes towards dementia and to provide basic data for educating about knowledge of dementia and strengthening positive attitudes towards dementia related patients.Methods: One hundred and ten dentists, dental post graduates, interns aged 22-46 years, from dental schools in Tamil Nadu were invited to complete a series of questions that assessed their dementia knowledge and attitudes.Results: A total of 110 dentists completed the questionnaire. Out of 24 questions on dementia knowledge and attitude, participants were on average able to answer less than half correctly. Responses to the attitude’s questionnaire showed that dentists had both positive and negative attitudes toward dementia.Conclusions: There is scope for dentists to improve their dementia knowledge and attitudes. Until a validated measure of dementia knowledge has been developed specifically for an dentist sample, researchers should avoid summary statistics (i.e.; total score) and instead focus on interrogating where the gaps in knowledge.

Dementia-Related Knowledge, Experiences and Perceptions of Dementia among Adolescents in Slovenia

Objectives: Without information about how adolescents perceive dementia, and what their dementia related experiences are, it is hard to raise awareness of dementia and positive attitudes towards people with dementia in adolescents. Aim: To evaluate dementia-related knowledge with a focus on comparison between adolescents with and those without relatives with dementia and their perception and experiences of relatives with dementia to provide basic data for educating about knowledge of dementia and strengthening positive attitudes towards dementia. Methods: 1128 students (aged 14 -19) from non-health related secondary schools in Slovenia completed the dementia-related knowledge survey. In subsample of 335 students with relatives with dementia we explored their experiences of dementia in relatives. Results: Out of 20 questions and supplementary questions on dementia knowledge, participants were on average able to answer 71.5% correctly (M = 14.30; SD = 2.56). Respondents with relatives with dementia reported higher knowledge (M = 14.67; SD = 2.44, p&lt;0.05), boys reported lower levels of knowledge than girls (p&lt;0.05), and students of secondary technical and vocational school, and of general secondary schools (grammar-school) scored significantly higher on the knowledge questionnaire in comparison to students of lower vocational and secondary vocational schools (p&lt;0.05). We also identified that in subsample of 335 adolescents with a relative with dementia a sadness and fear prewail in their attitudes towards dementia (e.g. 55% of all responses). Conclusions: Considering that adolescents are already forming negative attitudes and misconceptions of dementia, it is important that we raise awareness about dementia in this age.

Investigation of dementia awareness among stroke patients in China: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective To provide guidelines for the prevention of post-stroke dementia, we investigated whether stroke patients were aware of post-stroke dementia and their level of dementia-related knowledge. Methods Five dementia-related questions were designed. A field survey was conducted in a question-and-answer method using the designed questions. The surveys assessed 3000 stroke patients (2 weeks–6 months after stroke attacks) from 14 hospitals/clinical centers in 7 provinces and cities across China. Results Among 3000 stroke patients, 80.5% had heard of dementia, 39.1% knew that stroke can lead to dementia, 55.7% believed dementia can be prevented, 50.8% thought dementia can be cured, and only 8.8% had ever seen a doctor because of memory deterioration. Then, patients were classified into three groups, including a no cognitive impairment (NCI) group, a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) group, and a mild dementia (MD) group. Among the MCI and MD groups, only 8.7% (75/861) and 9.9% (64/649) of patients, respectively, had ever seen a doctor because of memory deterioration. According to our results, patients with a higher level of cognitive impairment had a lower awareness of dementia (P Conclusion The awareness of dementia in stroke patients in China is low, and the consultation rate is even lower. Moreover, patients with a higher level of cognitive impairment have a lower awareness of dementia. To improve public awareness and improve prevention, more emphasis should be put on education regarding post-stroke dementia. Routine cognitive function screening should be conducted on stroke patients as an effective way to assess dementia.

Beta Test of a PAC Dementia Knowledge Training Module Included in a Nursing Home Orientation Curriculum

Providing quality care for older adults in long-term care can be challenging, and this issue appears to be more pressing with people living with dementia. Using the Positive Approach® to Care (PAC) model, a 2-hour module for new staff nursing home orientation curriculum was designed to help introduce the concept of working with people living with dementia. Twelve undergraduate students participated in a beta-test of the nursing home orientation. A pre-and-post 38-item survey was administered to measure knowledge level and improvement. Participants also responded to qualitative semi-structured questions after the orientation. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were conducted. Results indicated an improvement on dementia-related knowledge in most of the survey items (21 of 34 items). Examples of statistically significant differences in the pretest and post-test identified are knowledge on the effect of pressure in the palm to comfort a person with dementia (p-0.039), vision as the most powerful sensory input during dementia caregiving (p-0.001), and functionalities lost when the left temporal lobe shrinks (p-0.014). The qualitative evaluation showed that most of the participants indicated a change in dementia caregiving views — including how to pause if permission is not given to engage, and to respect personal space. These findings prove important because the PAC orientation curriculum was successful in improving the students’ knowledge and perspectives on dementia. This training program could be a useful tool if implemented into nursing home employee orientation.

Rural Caregivers: Identification of Informational Needs Through Telemedicine Questions.

The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and associated disorders is increasing. Rural residents in the United States have less access to memory care specialists and educational and community resources than in other areas of the country. Over a decade ago, we initiated an interdisciplinary rural caregiving telemedicine program to reach Kentucky residents in areas of the state where resources for supporting individuals with dementia are limited. Telemedicine programs involve a short informational presentation followed by a question and answer session; programs are offered 4 times a year. The purpose of this study was to explore questions asked over 1 year of the rural caregiving telemedicine program-encompassing 5 programs-to identify the scope of dementia-related knowledge gaps among attendees. Questions from the 5 programs were recorded and content analyzed to identify areas of frequent informational requests. There were a total of 69 questions over the 5 sessions. For each program, questions ended due to time constraints rather than exhausting all inquiries. The most common topical areas of questions related to risk factors, behavioral management, diagnosis, and medications. This study highlights that rural caregivers in Kentucky have diverse dementia educational needs. Rural communities may benefit from additional, targeted resources addressing these common areas of unmet informational needs.

Measuring Self-Appraised Changes following Participation in an Intervention for Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia

ABSTRACTThis study examined the psychometric properties of the Self-Appraisal of Change Scale, a measure designed to capture domains that are subjectively relevant to caregivers, associated with overall well-being, and amenable to change upon engaging in an intervention. Data from 107 caregivers of veterans with dementia enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of a telephone-delivered caregiver psychoeducation and support group program (the Telehealth Education Program (TEP)) were analyzed. The TEP, which was delivered by master’s prepared social workers and a nurse dementia care manager, targeted caregivers’ dementia-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-management skills. Analyses were conducted to determine the factor structure, reliability, validity, and measurement invariance of the scale. Factor analyses yielded a single-factor solution for the scale’s nine items. The reliability and construct validity of the scale were also supported by the analyses. Multi-group analyses suggested that meaningful comparisons of scale items and total raw scores can be made across usual care (UC) and intervention groups. The findings offer preliminary support that the scale may represent a valid and reliable instrument that captures perceived changes in key domains (e.g. caregiving knowledge, attitudes, and skill) following participation in a psychoeducational and support intervention trial.

The Views of Domestic Staff and Porters when Supporting Patients with Dementia in the Acute Hospital: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.

There is increasing recognition that very many hospital patients have dementia but there are many concerns about the quality of care and support they receive. Consequently there have been numerous calls for hospital staff to have dementia training. While cleaning or domestic staff and porters form considerable parts of the hospital workforce they are infrequently considered in discussions of dementia care training and practice. This exploratory study aimed to investigate the experiences of domestic staff and porters working in an acute hospital setting who are in contact regularly with patients with dementia. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken in 2016 with seven domestic staff and five porters in one English acute hospital to investigate their views and experiences. Data were analysed thematically by constant comparison technique and theoretical sampling. Themes were identified and realistic concepts developed. Participants observed that caring attitudes and behaviour in their encounters with patients with dementia are important but challenging to put into practice. Several would have valued more information about dementia. Some noted situations in the hospital stay that seemed particularly difficult for patients with dementia such as travelling to different parts of the hospital for treatments. The study suggests the need for improving the dementia-related knowledge and skills of all non-clinical staff especially those new to the NHS. The impact of witnessing dementia symptoms and distress on emotional well-being requires further research so that ancillary staff can improve the hospital stay of patients with dementia.

Efficacy of a multi-component psychosocial intervention program for caregivers of persons living with neurocognitive disorders, Alexandria, Egypt: A randomized controlled trial.

Background:Unlike other chronic diseases, dementia caregiving is associated with enormous psychological burden, which stresses the need for caregivers-directed psychosocial interventions. Aim: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate the short-term efficacy of a multi-component psychosocial intervention program for informal caregivers of persons with neurocognitive disorders in Alexandria, Egypt.Methods:Informal caregivers (120) were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group (60) participated in a multi-component program of 8 sessions, including psycho-education, group cognitive-behavioral therapy, and group social support. Program primary outcomes were assessed after program termination (post-1), and three months later (post-2). Measured outcomes included caregivers' knowledge, depression and anxiety symptoms, and perceived burden.Results:Caregivers' depression, anxiety, and perceived burden demonstrated significant drop at post-1, and post-2 compared to the control group (P< 0.001). The intervention group showed significant negative absolute change on depression, anxiety, and perceived burden measures, while on the dementia-related knowledge measure, a significant positive absolute change was found at post-1, and post-2 (P< 0.001), in comparison to controls. All outcome measures recorded a large effect size; the highest was for knowledge (partial eta2 = 0.98), and the least was for perceived burden (partial eta2 = 0.71).Conclusion:A multi-component psychosocial intervention for caregivers of persons with neurocognitive disorders demonstrated a short-term efficacy in reducing their burden, depression, and anxiety, as well as improving caregivers' knowledge. However, further research is needed to investigate long-term efficacy of the intervention.

Questionnaire survey on requirements of vascular dementia-related knowledge among outpatients

Objective To survey the requirements of the vascular dementia(VaD)-related knowledge among outpatients. Methods Total 1 286 outpatients from Chaoyang district south medical alliance participated in a questionnaire survey on July 2015. There were 562 men and 724 women with an average age of (59.4±13.0) years; and 84.4% (1 085/1 286) of subjects had junior high school education and over. There were 4 topics with 32 items in the questionnaire, including the common knowledge of dementia (10 items), the etiology and risk factors of VaD (8 items), the requirements of health education (6 items) and its mode of knowledge delivery (8 items). Results Participants had a higher requirements for the common knowledge about dementia, centering in basic concept, common etiology and risk factor, and early clinical symptom. The groups had a higher demand on common etiology and risk factor of VaD, centering in cerebral infarction, hypertension, and diabetes. All groups intended to increase individual health-related knowledge and lecture of health education in the community was selected as the main mode of knowledge delivery. Concludsions Outpatients from Beijing Chaoyang district south medical Alliance have higher demands of the VaD related-knowledge and lecture shall be the main channel for delivery of healthy education in the community. Key words: Dementia, vascular; Healthy knowledge, attitudes, practice; Community health services; Community-institutional relations

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO LEARN: A SCHOOL-BASED BRAIN HEALTH CURRICULUM TO ENHANCE DEMENTIA-RELATED KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO LEARN: A SCHOOL-BASED BRAIN HEALTH CURRICULUM TO ENHANCE DEMENTIA-RELATED KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS

Knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease Among Norwegian Undergraduate Health and Social Care Students: A Survey Study

With an aging general population and a concurrent increase in the prevalence of dementia, health and social care professional students are increasingly exposed to this group of patients during their clinical placements and after graduation. A sound dementia-related knowledge base among health and social care students is important in providing high-quality dementia care. The present study assessed dementia-related knowledge in health and social care students. The Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) was utilized to measure the level of dementia knowledge. A total of 321 undergraduate students from various disciplines in their final years of study, but prior to graduation, participated in this study. The study identified a moderate dementia knowledge base (mean score: 23.51 out of 30) among health and social care students. The results revealed that the students were also ignorant of many facts and had many misconceptions pertaining to Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In addition, significant differences in knowledge were evident between student groups. These results suggest that the current dementia curriculum should be evaluated in an attempt to improve the dementia knowledge base of health and social care students.

청소년의 치매에 대한 지식과 태도

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine adolescents' knowledge and attitudes towards dementia and to provide basic data for educating about knowledge of dementia and strengthening positive attitudes towards dementia. Methods: This study used a descriptive research design. The subjects were 502 middle and high school students. A questionnaire organized by 16 questions of knowledge and 10 questions of attitudes towards dementia was used. Results: The subjects' knowledge level of dementia was low, and average score was <TEX>$8.89{\pm}2.95$</TEX>. The questions with low rate of correct answer were "Dementia is caused by several dozens of diseases such as internal medicine, neurology, psychiatry, etc.", "In spite of the dementia, patients can enjoy their favorite things." The subjects' average score of attitudes towards dementia was <TEX>$3.72{\pm}0.58$</TEX>. Questions of negative attitudes were "I don't want to be closed to patients of dementia.", "I watch information or prevention about dementia in mass communications media." The relationship between dementia-related knowledge and attitudes showed positive correlation. Conclusion: The result means the mediation is necessary for improving dementia-related knowledge and strengthening positive attitudes in adolescents. The education programs should be proceeded to provide adolescents with correct information about dementia.