Assessment of Dementia Knowledge Among Family Members/Caregivers in Egypt.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Geriatrics and Gerontology department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Introduction: Despite numerous studies reporting dementia/Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevalence in Egypt, few have explored dementia/AD literacy in the country, revealing generally low public knowledge. Thus, there is a pressing need to enhance understanding of public perceptions regarding dementia/AD literacy.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge about dementia among family members and caregivers within a sample of the Egyptian population.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The study involved 150 adult family members and/or caregivers of elderly patients, 60 years and above, either experiencing dementia or not. The participants were assessed, for their dementia knowledge, by using the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS).
Results: The DKAS total scores ranged from 14 to 46, with an average score of 31.013 which indicates a moderate level of dementia knowledge. The level of dementia knowledge was found significantly higher among females, individuals with higher education, and those participants who were exposed before to dementia cases.
Conclusion: This study identified a notable gap in dementia knowledge, as the participants demonstrated a moderate level of understanding. The findings underscore the importance of targeted educational interventions to address this knowledge gap.


Keywords

The Egyptian Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology
Volume 10, Issue 2
October 2023
Pages 166-174

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