"Infographing" Dementia Prevention: A Co-Design Approach.

Designing effective public health messages is challenging, particularly when communicating complex and relatively new health messages such as dementia risk prevention which are still largely unfamiliar to the public. The accessibility of these messages, especially for individuals who speak English as an additional language, remains uncertain in large scale educational interventions. A key strategy to enhance the communication of evidence-based information is to co-design infographics that optimize the accessibility and impact of visual health messages. This paper reports on the co-design process of infographing dementia prevention messages. Qualitative data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis to generate three themes reflecting the message design preferences of participants: "all hands on deck," "charting the course," and "get on board." This work supports the crucial need to engage the target audience via co-design when creating visual messages as meaningful and accessible educational tools that will resonate with the intended audience. Doing so may help health communicators navigate the creation of visual messages across diverse health domains and populations.

Broadening the reach of dementia risk-reduction initiatives: strategies from dissemination models.

BACKGROUND: Modifiable risk factors for dementia account for 40% of cases worldwide and exert impacts on risk across the life course. To have maximal public health impact, dementia risk-reduction initiatives need to reach a large and diverse audience, including people from a wide range of ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Currently, dementia risk-reduction interventions primarily reach a narrow audience, consisting largely of highly educated older adults from high income countries. METHODS: In this commentary, we review established dissemination models to identify strategies that could be used to extend and broaden the reach of dementia risk-reduction initiatives. Three potential reach-broadening strategies can be identified from these models: engaging with distinct user groups; focusing on interpersonal communication; and utilising dissemination agents. RESULTS: Engaging with distinct user groups and utilising dissemination agents show promise for broadening the reach of dementia risk-reduction initiatives, while interpersonal communication has received limited attention in this context. Further evaluation of the impact of interpersonal communication may provide avenues to take advantage of this dissemination method. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the reviewed models and data from current risk-reduction initiatives, we suggest that utilising all three of these strategies may most effectively broaden the reach of dementia risk-reduction initiatives. This may promote risk reduction among a larger and more diverse audience, more equitably reducing the global impact of dementia.

An online, public health framework supporting behaviour change to reduce dementia risk: interim results from the ISLAND study linking ageing and neurodegenerative disease.

BACKGROUND: Unmanaged cardiometabolic health, low physical and cognitive activity, poor diet, obesity, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are modifiable health risk factors for dementia and public health approaches to dementia prevention have been called for. The Island Study Linking Ageing and Neurodegenerative Disease (ISLAND) is a dementia prevention public health study examining whether improving knowledge about modifiable dementia risk factors supports behaviour changes that reduce future dementia risk. METHODS: Residents of Tasmania, Australia, aged 50 + years who joined the 10-year ISLAND study were asked to complete annual online surveys about their knowledge, motivations and behaviours related to modifiable dementia risk. ISLAND included two knowledge-based interventions: a personalised Dementia Risk Profile (DRP) report based on survey responses, and the option to do a 4-week Preventing Dementia Massive Open Online Course (PDMOOC). Longitudinal regression models assessed changes in the number and type of risk factors, with effects moderated by exposures to the DRP report and engagement with the PDMOOC. Knowledge and motivational factors related to dementia risk were examined as mediators of risk behaviour change. RESULTS: Data collected between October 2019 and October 2022 (n = 3038, av. 63.7 years, 71.6% female) showed the mean number of modifiable dementia risk factors per participant (range 0 to 9) reduced from 2.17 (SD 1.24) to 1.66 (SD 1.11). This change was associated with the number of exposures to the DRP report (p = .042) and was stronger for PDMOOC participants (p = .001). The interaction between DRP and PDMOOC exposures yielded a significant improvement in risk scores (p = .004). The effect of PDMOOC engagement on behaviour change was partly mediated by increased knowledge (12%, p = .013). Self-efficacy enhanced the effect of knowledge on behaviour change, while perceived susceptibility to dementia mitigated this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The ISLAND framework and interventions, a personalised DRP report and the four-week PDMOOC, work independently and synergistically to increase dementia risk knowledge and stimulate health behaviour change for dementia risk reduction. ISLAND offers a feasible and scalable public health approach for redressing the rising prevalence of dementia.

The Drivers of Conversations About Dementia Risk Reduction: A Qualitative Study.

Dementia prevention is an area of health where public knowledge remains limited. A growing number of education initiatives are attempting to rectify this, but they tend to reach audiences of limited size and diversity, limiting intervention-associated health equity. However, initiative participants tend to discuss these initiatives and the information they contain with members of their social network, increasing the number and diversity of people receiving dementia risk reduction information. In this qualitative study, we sought to understand the drivers of this information sharing. We interviewed 39 people from Tasmania, Australia who completed the Preventing Dementia Massive Open Online Course in May 2020. We identified themes from responses to semi-structured interview questions using reflexive thematic analysis. We identified three key drivers of information sharing: participants' personal course experiences; participants finding information sharing opportunities with people they expected to be receptive; and conversation partners' responses to conversation topics. These drivers aligned with existing communication theories, with dementia-related stigma effecting both actual and perceived conversation partner receptivity. Understanding the drivers of information sharing may allow information about dementia risk reduction, and other preventative health behaviors, to be presented in ways that facilitate information diffusion, increasing equity in preventative health education.

Interpersonal communication may improve equity in dementia risk education.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Encouraging people to adopt life-long habits that reduce dementia risk is necessary to manage the growing global prevalence of this condition and is, therefore, a global health priority. Current initiatives promoting risk-reducing behaviour primarily attract participants from a limited range of backgrounds, even if widely available. This may inadvertently increase health inequities, as the people who are most likely to develop dementia are the people who are least involved in risk-reduction initiatives. Interpersonal communication can effectively disseminate health messages to demographically diverse populations and may, therefore, broaden the reach of dementia risk-reduction information. METHODS: Coding reliability thematic analysis was used to categorise reports of information sharing provided by participants from one global online dementia risk education initiative, the Preventing Dementia Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC. These reports of information sharing were provided in response to the feedback question: "If you have already applied your MOOC learning, please tell us how." RESULTS: Information was reportedly shared with a wide range of people, including those from demographic groups that are under-represented among Preventing Dementia MOOC participants. Information about specific risk factors was shared, along with general information about the course and/or dementia risk reduction. Some participants also reported that the people they shared information with were initiating risk-reducing behaviours. CONCLUSION: Interpersonal communication has the potential to disseminate dementia risk reduction information to, and promote behaviour change among, a broad group of people at risk of dementia, thereby increasing equity in dementia risk education.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Dementia Public Stigma Scale.

OBJECTIVES: Dementia is a stigmatised condition and dementia-related stigma is associated with low self-esteem, poor psychological wellbeing, social isolation and poor quality of life in people living with dementia and their families. There is, however, a lack of valid measures that accurately quantify dementia-related stigma in the general public. This study reports the initial psychometric evaluation of a new tool designed to measure dementia-related public stigma amongst community dwelling adults. METHODS: A sample of 3250 individuals aged 18 and over completed an online survey on their beliefs and feelings regarding dementia and people living with dementia, and their behavioural intentions towards people living with dementia. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using Maximum Likelihood with oblique rotation was performed to extract factors. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the factor structure using goodness-of-fit index (GFI), the comparative fit index (CFI), and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) to evaluate the model fit. Internal consistency was measured for the final scale version. RESULTS: EFA resulted in a 16-item, 5-factor model (Fear and discomfort, Negative perceptions, Positive perceptions, Burden, and Exclusion) that explained 50.43% of the total variance. The CFA-estimated model demonstrated a good fit; all fit indices were larger than 0.95 (GFI = 0.967, CFI = 0.959) and smaller than 0.05 (RMSEA = 0.048). The final scale showed moderate to high reliability scores ranging from α = 0.738 to 0.805. CONCLUSIONS: The Dementia Public Stigma Scale is a tool with reliability, and some demonstrated validity. This scale can be used to measure the public stigma of dementia amongst adults and may be used in the development and evaluation of interventions aimed at dementia-related stigma reduction.

Developing a shortened version of the dementia knowledge assessment scale (DKAS-TC) with a sample in Taiwan: an item response theory approach.

BACKGROUND: The 25-item Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS2) is a widely used tool for measuring knowledge of dementia. To increase the applicability of the Chinese-language version of the tool (DKAS-TC) for the general public, this study aimed to develop a shortened version using the item response theory (IRT) approach. METHODS: A total of 401 participants voluntarily completed a Chinese-language version of the DKAS2 questionnaire (DKAS-TC) at the start of dementia awareness training courses in 2020 and 2021. The four Rasch family models were used to analyze the dimensionality of the shortened scale (the DKAS-s) and to confirm its accuracy in measuring dementia knowledge. RESULTS: The results justified supported the use of a dichotomous response scale for responding to the DKAS-s and demonstrated good fit of the data to a Rasch model with the four dimensions of "Causes and Characteristics", "Communication and Engagement", "Care Needs", and "Risks and Health Promotion". Moreover, we shortened the DKAS-TC by selecting items that had both above-average discriminative ability and above-average information. The DKAS-s retained 64.13% of the information contained in the DKAS-TC, resulting in a 16-item scale which retained four items in each of the original four dimensions. The DKAS-s also correlated highly (≥0.95) with the DKAS-TC and exhibited a sizeable range of difficulty of dementia knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: The DKAS-s is expected to be more efficient in field settings while retaining an acceptable level of psychometric properties when used as a survey instrument to measure the general public's knowledge of dementia.

What do health professionals need to know about young onset dementia? An international Delphi consensus study.

BACKGROUND: People with young onset dementia (YOD) have unique needs and experiences, requiring care and support that is timely, appropriate and accessible. This relies on health professionals possessing sufficient knowledge about YOD. This study aims to establish a consensus among YOD experts about the information that is essential for health professionals to know about YOD. METHODS: An international Delphi study was conducted using an online survey platform with a panel of experts (n = 19) on YOD. In round 1 the panel individually responded to open-ended questions about key facts that are essential for health professionals to understand about YOD. In rounds 2 and 3, the panel individually rated the collated responses in terms of their importance in addition to selected items from the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale. The consensus level reached for each statement was calculated using the median, interquartile range and percentage of panel members who rated the statement at the highest level of importance. RESULTS: The panel of experts were mostly current or retired clinicians (57%, n = 16). Their roles included neurologist, psychiatrist and neuropsychiatrist, psychologist, neuropsychologist and geropsychologist, physician, social worker and nurse practitioner. The remaining respondents had backgrounds in academia, advocacy, or other areas such as law, administration, homecare or were unemployed. The panel reached a high to very high consensus on 42 (72%) statements that they considered to be important for health professionals to know when providing care and services to people with YOD and their support persons. Importantly the panel agreed that health professionals should be aware that people with YOD require age-appropriate care programs and accommodation options that take a whole-family approach. In terms of identifying YOD, the panel agreed that it was important for health professionals to know that YOD is aetiologically diverse, distinct from a mental illness, and has a combination of genetic and non-genetic contributing factors. The panel highlighted the importance of health professionals understanding the need for specialised, multidisciplinary services both in terms of diagnosing YOD and in providing ongoing support. The panel also agreed that health professionals be aware of the importance of psychosocial support and non-pharmacological interventions to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The expert panel identified information that they deem essential for health professionals to know about YOD. There was agreement across all thematic categories, indicating the importance of broad professional knowledge related to YOD identification, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. The findings of this study are not only applicable to the delivery of support and care services for people with YOD and their support persons, but also to inform the design of educational resources for health professionals who are not experts in YOD.

Consumer Access, Appraisal, and Application of Services and Information for Dementia (CAAASI-Dem): a validation study.

Objectives: The Consumer Access, Appraisal, and Application of Services and Information for Dementia (CAAASI-Dem) was developed to examine individuals' self-assessed confidence in their ability to access, appraise and use dementia services and information. The CAAASI-Dem is the only tool to date to measure this crucial component of dementia literacy. This study was designed to validate its structural validity.Method: Data was collected from 3277 participants enrolled in an on-line dementia course. The five-factor structure of the CAAASI-Dem, which was derived from a previous exploratory factor analysis, was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal reliability, convergent and divergent validity, and known-groups validity were assessed. Results: The five-factor model demonstrated good fit with the observed data with the removal of 2 items and movement of 1 item across the factors. The resultant 24-item five-factor CAAASI-Dem showed very good sub-scale internal reliability and satisfactory convergent and divergent validity. There was good discrimination between groups of participants with different levels of care experience.Conclusion: The results provided evidence for the 24-item CAAASI-Dem as a valid and reliable five-dimensional scale. Limitations of the study are discussed, and recommendations are made for future research and practice.

Validation of a Chinese version of the dementia knowledge assessment scale in healthcare providers in China.

AIMS: To translate 25-item Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale into Chinese and evaluate its psychometric properties amongst Chinese healthcare providers. BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dementia is increasing in China, but development of relevant training for healthcare providers is still in its infancy stage. A comprehensive, valid and reliable Chinese knowledge-of-dementia measure is needed to identify training needs and evaluate the effect of educational interventions. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. METHODS: The Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale was translated into Chinese following the modified Brislin's translation model. Content and face validity were established by an expert panel in dementia care and healthcare providers. A convenience sample of 290 healthcare providers in care homes and hospitals was recruited. Construct validity was evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis, concurrent validity and known groups' comparisons method. Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency reliability and 2-week test-retest reliability. This study used the STROBE checklist for reporting. RESULTS: The content validity index was 0.98. The confirmatory factor analysis model revealed that the four-factor model was partly supported in the present study. The moderate correlation between Chinese version of Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale and Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale indicated acceptable concurrent validity. The mean score of the scale and subscale scores showed significant differences between health professionals and care assistants, except for the subscale of "Care Considerations." The reliability was demonstrated with Cronbach's alpha of .77 and intra-class correlation coefficients of each subscale between .74 and .92 among 56 respondents. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale demonstrated acceptable concurrent validity but marginal factorial validity and satisfactory reliability amongst Chinese healthcare providers. Therefore, applying the four-factor structure of Chinese version scale should be considered. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Chinese version of Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale can be used to understand the training needs of healthcare providers in dementia.

Predictors of dementia knowledge in a rural general public sample.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate dementia knowledge within a rural Australian general public cohort and understand demographic predictors of knowledge in this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study comprising quantitative surveys. SETTING: 321 participants were recruited from the Tasmanian general public (February-September 2017). PARTICIPANTS: 28% of participants were from remote or outer regional postcodes; the remainder were from inner regional areas. The median age was 46 years; 35% were male. 30% had participated in prior dementia education, 29% had worked with people living with dementia, and 23% had no identified personal experience of people living with dementia. INTERVENTIONS: No interventions were conducted as part of this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dementia knowledge was assessed using the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale. Demographic variables were also collected. RESULTS: Mean dementia knowledge was moderate and participants scored highest on the care considerations subscale. Those with personal experience with a person living with dementia scored significantly higher on all subscales, and overall, than those without. Dementia education, general education, and previous work, care or close relationship with people living with dementia were all significant predictors in a regression model explaining nearly a third of the variance in overall dementia knowledge. CONCLUSION: While personal experience of dementia improves knowledge of the condition, dementia education is the most important predictor. Deficits identified in knowledge of risk factors, and incomplete knowledge about aspects important to quality care, suggest a need for further education for the general public, particularly in the light of the rising prevalence of dementia in ageing rural populations.

Measuring consumer access, appraisal and application of services and information for dementia (CAAASI-Dem): a key component of dementia literacy.

BACKGROUND: The ability to locate, navigate and use dementia services and information, either for oneself or in providing care for others, is an essential component of dementia literacy. Despite dementia literacy being understood to be inadequate in many settings, no validated instrument exists to measure these elements. Here we describe the development and preliminary validation of the Consumer Access, Appraisal and Application of Services and Information for Dementia (CAAASI-Dem) tool. METHODS: Items were adapted from existing health literacy tools and guided by discussion posts in the Understanding Dementia Massive Open Online Course (UDMOOC). Following expert review and respondent debriefing, a modified CAAASI-Dem was administered to UDMOOC participants online. On the basis of descriptive statistics, inter-item and item total correlations and qualitative feedback, this was further refined and administered online to a second cohort of UDMOOC participants. Exploratory factor analysis identified underlying factor structure. Items were retained if they had significant factor loadings on one factor only. Each factor required at least three items with significant factor loadings. Internal consistency of factors in the final model was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients. RESULTS: From a pool of 70 initial items with either a 5-point Likert scale (Not at all confident - Extremely confident; or Strongly agree - Strongly disagree) or a binary scale (Yes - No), 65 items were retained in CAAASI-Dem-V1. Statistical and qualitative analysis of 1412 responses led to a further 34 items being removed and 11 revised to improve clarity. The 31 item CAAASI-Dem-V2 tool was subsequently administered to 3146 participants, one item was removed due to redundancy and EFA resulted in the removal of an additional 4 items and determination of a five factor structure: Evaluation and engagement; Readiness; Social supports; Specific dementia services; and Practical aspects. CONCLUSIONS: The five factors and 26 constituent items in CAAASI-Dem align with functional, critical, and communicative aspects of dementia health literacy from the perspective of the carer. As a screening tool for people living with dementia and their carers, CAAASI-Dem potentially provides a means to determine support needs and may be a key component of the dementia literacy assessment toolbox.

General practitioners attitude and confidence scale for dementia (GPACS-D): confirmatory factor analysis and comparative subscale scores among GPs and supervisors.

BACKGROUND: The attitude of General Practitioner's (GP's) towards dementia and confidence in their clinical abilities impacts on diagnosis rates and management of the condition. The purpose of the present research is to refine and confirm the reliability and validity of the General Practitioner Attitudes and Confidence Scale for Dementia (GPACS-D) as a tool to measure confidence and attitude. METHODS: A sample of 194 GP volunteers attending dementia education workshops were recruited to complete the GPACS-D before and after the workshop. Volunteer respondents comprised both GP Registrars and GP Supervisors. Analyses included Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), measures of internal consistency, Pearson correlations, and a comparison of subscale scores between cohorts (T-Test for independent samples). RESULTS: Findings of the CFA support a 15-item, 3-factor model with four items removed due to poor performance and one item moved between factors. The resultant model exhibited good fit (x2 = 103.88; p = .105; RMSEA = .032; PCLOSE = .915; CFI = .967; TLI = 960), with acceptable internal consistency. Subscales exhibited clear discriminant validity with no underlying relationships between subscales. Finally, total and subscale scores exhibited good discrimination between groups who would be expected to score differently based on experience and level of exposure to dementia. CONCLUSION: The 15-item, 3-subscale GPACS-D is a reliable and valid measure of GP confidence and attitudes toward dementia. The subscales clearly distinguish between groups who might be expected to score differently from each other based on their training or professional experiences. The psychometric properties of the GPACS-D support its use as a research tool.

Dementia knowledge assessment scale (DKAS): confirmatory factor analysis and comparative subscale scores among an international cohort.

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a life-limiting condition that is increasing in global prevalence in line with population ageing. In this context, it is necessary to accurately measure dementia knowledge across a spectrum of health professional and lay populations with the aim of informing targeted educational interventions and improving literacy, care, and support. Building on prior exploratory analysis, which informed the development of the preliminarily valid and reliable version of the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS), a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed to affirm construct validity and proposed subscales to further increase the measure's utility for academics and educators. METHODS: A large, de novo sample of 3649 volunteer respondents to a dementia-related online course was recruited to evaluate the performance of the DKAS and its proposed subscales. Respondents represented diverse cohorts, including health professionals, students, and members of the general public. Analyses included CFA (using structural equation modelling), measures of internal consistency (α), and non-parametric tests of subscale correlation (Spearman Correlation) and score differences between cohorts (Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance). RESULTS: Findings of the CFA supported a 25-item, four-factor model for the DKAS with two items removed due to poor performance and one item moved between factors. The resultant model exhibited good reliability (α = .85; ω h  = .87; overall scale), with acceptable subscale internal consistency (α ≥ .65; subscales). Subscales showed acceptable correlation without any indication of redundancy. Finally, total and DKAS subscale scores showed good discrimination between cohorts of respondents who would be anticipated to hold different levels of knowledge on the basis of education or experience related to dementia. CONCLUSION: The DKAS has been confirmed as a reliable and valid measure of dementia knowledge for diverse populations that is capable of elucidating knowledge characteristics across four coherent domains: 1) Causes and Characteristics, 2) Communication and Behaviour, 3) Care Considerations, and 4) Risks and Health Promotion. Importantly, the four confirmed subscales clearly distinguish between groups who might be expected to hold differing levels of knowledge about dementia, allowing for a fine-grained level of detail to be established when evaluating baseline understanding or knowledge change associated with educational intervention.

Aspects of nursing student placements associated with perceived likelihood of working in residential aged care.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate which aspects of student nurses' experiences of residential aged care facility clinical placements affect perceived likelihood of choosing a career in residential aged care post graduation. BACKGROUND: Poor clinical placement experiences as a student contribute to nurses' reluctance to work in aged care. Various factors have been found to improve the placement experience and influence students' attitudes and employment intentions. Missing from the literature is a quantitative - rather than qualitative - exploration of which attributes of an aged care placement link to perceived likelihood of working in residential aged care post graduation. DESIGN: Supported residential aged care placement programmes were developed for nursing students using an evidence-based best-practice model within an action research framework. Staff formed a mentor group in two facilities. During placement, weekly feedback meetings were held for students and mentors. METHODS: Second-year nursing students (n = 71) participating in a three- or four-week placement programme at two Tasmanian residential aged care facilities (September 2011-May 2013) completed questionnaires on placement experiences. Measures of association (correlation coefficients) were used to assess the effect of a range of variables on the likelihood of working in an aged care facility post graduation. RESULTS: Associations were identified between the likelihood of working in residential aged care post graduation and nurse mentor-student feedback exchange, Teaching and Learning Score and supportiveness of care workers. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the literature by providing quantitative evidence that certain aspects of aged care placements influence attitudes to working in these sites post graduation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To increase interest in working in residential aged care, the teaching and learning environment needs improvement, opportunities should be proffered for mentor-student feedback exchange during placements and care workers need support to mentor effectively.

What should we know about dementia in the 21st century? A Delphi consensus study.

BACKGROUND: Escalating numbers of people are experiencing dementia in many countries. With increasing consumer needs, there is anticipated growth in the numbers of people providing diagnostic evaluations, treatments, and care. Ensuring a consistent and contemporary understanding of dementia across all of these groups has become a critical issue. This study aimed to reach consensus among dementia experts from English speaking countries regarding essential and contemporary knowledge about dementia. METHODS: An online Delphi study was conducted to examine expert opinion concerning dementia knowledge with three rounds of data collection. A sample of dementia experts was selected by a panel of Australian experts, including a geriatrician and three professors of aged care. Purposive selection was initially undertaken with the sample expanded through snowballing. Dementia experts (N = 19) included geriatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, dementia advocates, and nurse academics from the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. In the first round, these participants provided open-ended responses to questions determining what comprised essential knowledge about dementia. In the second round, responses were summarised into 66 discrete statements that participants rated on the basis of importance. In the third round, a rank-ordered list of the 66 statements and a group median were provided and participants rated the statements again. The degree of consensus regarding importance ratings was determined by assessing median, interquartile range, and proportion of experts scoring above predetermined thresholds. Correlation scores were calculated for each statement after the final round to identify changes in statement scores. RESULTS: The Delphi experts identified 36 statements about dementia that they considered essential to understanding the condition. Statements about care for a person experiencing dementia and their care giver represented the largest response category. Other statements, for which full or very high consensus was reached, related to dementia characteristics, symptoms and progression, diagnosis and assessment, and treatment and prevention. CONCLUSIONS: These results summarise knowledge of dementia that is considered essential across expert representatives of key stakeholder groups from three countries. This information has implications for the delivery of care to people with the condition and the development of dementia education programs.

Who knows, who cares? Dementia knowledge among nurses, care workers, and family members of people living with dementia.

The number of people with dementia is increasing rapidly worldwide. Commensurate with population ageing, the use of nursing homes in Australia (known as residential aged care facilities) for individuals with dementia is growing. As a terminal condition, dementia is best managed by instituting a palliative approach to care. A good knowledge of dementia, including its progression and management, among staff and families of people living with dementia is essential for clear decision making and the provision of appropriate care. Yet there is limited information regarding relative levels of dementia knowledge. This paper reports the results of a study that assessed dementia knowledge among these two cohorts using the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool; the study surveyed 279 staff members and 164 family members of residents with dementia. Dementia knowledge deficits were evident in both cohorts across a range of areas. It is critical that dementia knowledge deficits are identified and addressed in order to support evidence-based dementia care.

'There's something they can do': Educating aged care staff about the trajectory of dementia, palliative care and the Namaste Care™ program: A mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcomes of education about the dementia illness trajectory and Namaste Care™ program on aged care staff's knowledge, attitudes, self-perceived skills and competence. METHODS: A convergent mixed methods research design was adopted to compare the results of quantitative and qualitative data following an education intervention. Nurses and aged care staff (n = 35) undertook 2 × 2 h training sessions over 3 days. Data were collected pre- and post-intervention using three validated surveys. Qualitative data were collected through interviews and a focus group. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated and compared during interpretation and discussion of the findings. RESULTS: Significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes and skills survey scores from already published data were confirmed by the qualitative findings in this study. Three key themes were derived from the data, comprising dementia-related education and knowledge changes, recognising the benefits of the Namaste Care™ program, and the importance of changing practice. CONCLUSIONS: Dementia education using the Namaste Care™ program enabled staff to identify gaps in knowledge and skills within their own practice. Staff perceived that the Namaste Care™ program can be a driver for practice change including palliative care to improve quality of life for people living in the advanced stages of dementia.

Communication in dementia care: Experiences and needs of carers.

To ensure the well-being, quality of life and quality of care of people living with dementia, carers need to have the necessary communication knowledge and skills to respond appropriately to a person's changing abilities and needs. Understanding carers' communication experiences and needs in the context of dementia care is an important step in enabling effective education and support for carers. This study aimed to investigate communication challenges faced by carers and their coping strategies, influencing factors, and communication education and training needs. The sample involved 258 carers enrolled in an online dementia care program, and data were collected using a 16-item questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric inferential statistics, including Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman's rho, were used to analyse the data. The participants reported experiencing a range of challenges in communicating with people living with dementia and employing various strategies in addressing these challenges, either independently or with the support of others. Improvements in a number of factors would be beneficial for carers, including more time for caring, more care and social support, as well as enhanced skills in communicating with people living with dementia. A large majority of the participants indicated their need for education or training in communication knowledge and skills, and those with higher learning needs were likely to be younger, care workers and other health professionals, and those with less care experience. Recommendations are made for future research and efforts to maximise effective education and support for carers of people living with dementia.

Island Study Linking Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease (ISLAND) Targeting Dementia Risk Reduction: Protocol for a Prospective Web-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Up to 40% of incident dementia is considered attributable to behavioral and lifestyle factors. Given the current lack of medical treatments and the projected increase in dementia prevalence, a focus on prevention through risk reduction is needed. OBJECTIVE: We aim to increase dementia risk knowledge and promote changes in dementia risk behaviors at individual and population levels. METHODS: The Island Study Linking Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease (ISLAND) is a long-term prospective, web-based cohort study with nested interventions that will be conducted over a 10-year period. Target participants (n=10,000) reside in Tasmania and are aged 50 years or over. Survey data on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to modifiable dementia risk factors will be collected annually. After each survey wave, participants will be provided with a personalized dementia risk profile containing guidelines for reducing risk across 9 behavioral and lifestyle domains and with opportunities to engage in educational and behavioral interventions targeting risk reduction. Survey data will be modeled longitudinally with intervention engagement indices, cognitive function indices, and blood-based biomarkers, to measure change in risk over time. RESULTS: In the initial 12 months (October 2019 to October 2020), 6410 participants have provided baseline data. The study is ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: Recruitment targets are feasible and efforts are ongoing to achieve a representative sample. Findings will inform future public health dementia risk reduction initiatives by showing whether, when, and how dementia risk can be lowered through educational and behavioral interventions, delivered in an uncontrolled real-world context. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/34688.