Factors associated with public knowledge of and attitudes to dementia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction Dementia is a major public health concern but one that continues to be stigmatised. We examine lay knowledge of dementia and attitudes to people with dementia as potential precursors of public anxiety, focusing on the social characteristics associated with (a) the formation of these attitudes, and (b) the perception of the need for restriction and control for people with dementia. Methods Analysis of the 2014 Northern Ireland Life and Times survey, which included questions on knowledge of, attitudes to and personal experience with dementia. We used (a) latent class analysis and (b) logistic regression to examine factors associated with respondent attitudes towards dementia. Results Respondents (n = 1211) had relatively good general knowledge of dementia, but limited knowledge of specific risk factors. Negative perceptions of dementia were mitigated somewhat by personal contact. A high proportion of respondents felt that high levels of control were appropriate for people diagnosed with dementia, even at early stages of the disease. Conclusion Personal antipathy to dementia was highly prevalent despite ongoing public campaigns to increase public awareness of developments in its prevention, treatment and consequent care pathways and hampering efforts to widen social inclusion. Fresh thinking and more resources may be needed to challenge persisting common misapprehension of the condition and the formation of entrenched stigma.

The effectiveness of a digital game to improve public perception of dementia: A pretest-posttest evaluation

“…Similarly, De Vries et al [19] found that specialist dementia training in health care workers in New Zealand made no difference to respondent ADQ scores. A cross-sectional survey conducted by Rosato et al [20] examined factors linked with public knowledge of and attitudes towards dementia. Analysis of 1211 responses demonstrated that despite public campaigns increasing awareness, they reported a high prevalence of personal…”

“…In a recent systematic review of the literature on stigma and dementia, Nguyen and Li, 2020 found that participants across studies demonstrated limited knowledge, negative beliefs and emotions such as fear associated with dementia. We know that the promotion of behaviour change and attitudes towards dementia is challenging [21], in particular when the general public only have a moderate understanding of dementia [22], hence effective strategies to facilitate greater social inclusion for people with dementia is a recognised priority [20].…”

Challenges in public perception: highlights from the United Kingdom-Brazil Dementia Workshop

“…Also noted was the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with no evidence of beneficial effects; the recommendation³ is for use in mild-to-moderate AD, for instance. Lack of training may also play a role in overdiagnosis: 17 misinterpretation of biomarkers is an issue, for instance making a clinical diagnosis of AD based on biomarker evidence of amyloid positivity and co-occurring cognitive symptoms, even when the symptoms might have a non-neurodegenerative cause. 17 …”

“…Lack of training may also play a role in overdiagnosis: 17 misinterpretation of biomarkers is an issue, for instance making a clinical diagnosis of AD based on biomarker evidence of amyloid positivity and co-occurring cognitive symptoms, even when the symptoms might have a non-neurodegenerative cause. 17 …”

“…some people say “I am demented” or another similar comment to apologise for forgetting something they should have remembered). 17 , 18 Such behaviour may contribute to disseminating a negative notion about dementia.…”