Perceptions of Alzheimer’s Disease in the French Population: Evolutions between 2008 and 2013 and Associated Factors in 2013

Increasing knowledge on dementia risk reduction in the general population: Results of a public awareness campaign

Strategies to reduce dementia risk are needed to minimize the burden of this growing public health concern. Most individuals are not aware that dementia risk reduction is possible, let alone how this could be achieved. Health education, such as public awareness campaigns on the topic of dementia risk reduction, can meet this need. A public health campaign (including social media and offering an online individual risk assessment tool) was carried out over a 7-month period in Flanders, Belgium. Impact was assessed in two independent online surveys, before (n = 1003) and after the campaign (n = 1008), in representative samples of adults aged 40-75 years. Questions regarding personal needs, wishes and barriers were also included. After the campaign, more individuals (10.3%) were aware that dementia risk reduction is possible than before the campaign, and more individuals correctly identified 10 out of 12 surveyed modifiable dementia risk and protective factors. However, no differences were observed in low-educated individuals. Further, specific differences in potential needs, wishes and barriers for future campaigns or interventions were observed between demographic strata. The majority of the respondents (89%) indicated that they would welcome more information on improving their brain-health. More than half (54%) also believed that they lacked the necessary knowledge to make brain-healthy behavior changes. In conclusion, effective public awareness campaigns on the topic of dementia risk reduction are feasible and timely, given the state of the evidence. Special efforts need to be made to develop effective campaigns, tailored towards low-educated individuals.

Reactions to a Probable Diagnosis of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: A Content Analysis

Half of the people living with HIV have cognitive deficits indicative of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs). With few treatment options, informing patients about a HAND diagnosis is a questionable practice. A sample of 139 people living with HIV were administered gold-standard cognitive tests; scores were used to determine whether they met cognitive criteria for HAND. Participants were informed that they met the criteria for HAND and asked 2 open-ended questions about their reactions to learning this information. Participant responses were recorded verbatim and coded into 3 overarching themes: positive, indifferent, and negative. Positive responses contained subthemes of confirmation, gratitude, desire for improvement, and curiosity. Indifferent responses contained nonreactive responses, apathy, and confusion. Negative responses contained surprise, discontentment, fear, and denial. Although most participants responded positively to feedback about HANDs, others experienced distress. Nurse clinicians should be mindful about informing patients if they have HAND while also educating them about brain health.

What you say and what I want: Priorities for public health campaigning and initiatives in relation to dementia

OBJECTIVE

To examine the overlap between priorities expressed by representatives from national and local campaigning organisations and the views of key voices in relation to dementia.

METHODS

Semi-structured, in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 19 representatives from campaigning organisations, including nine countries and six local community initiatives in Australia. Responses were categorised into nine priorities. Views were compared to the voices of people with dementia (n = 19), carers (n = 28), and health-care (n = 21), social work (n = 23) and service professionals (n = 20).

RESULTS

Local groups prioritised user-led decision-making and community normalising agendas. National groups were influenced by service frameworks and increasing public awareness. Professional and carer groups focused on increasing understanding and communication skills while people with dementia valued being a normal part of society.

CONCLUSION

Future campaigning should use both national and local approaches to changing social relations, through interpersonal connections, advocacy and social mobilisation, to promote a normalising approach to attitude change.

Differences in priority by age group and perspective: implications for public health education and campaigning in relation to dementia

ABSTRACTObjectives:A shift toward public health responses to dementia, raises questions about the most appropriate approaches to specific population groups. We examined perspective and age as elements in effective campaigning. Implications from the standpoint of the recipient are drawn for public health education and practice.

DESIGN

In-depth semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interview with self-selected participants recruited via adverts, contact with provider organizations and cards placed in retail and service settings. Questions focused on attitudes to dementia and expectations of public campaigning and education.

SETTING

Community-dwelling adults were interviewed across five Australian states.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 111 people from 5 target groups: people with dementia (n = 19), carers (n = 28), care work and service professionals from healthcare (n = 21), social work (n = 23) and commercial service professions (n = 20) involving people in younger adulthood (n = 13), early midlife (n = 23), later midlife (n = 54), and older age (n = 21).

MEASUREMENTS

All interviews were transcribed and analyzed thematically by three researchers, reaching consensus before coding and further analysis in NVivo. Narrative analysis of transcripts included 330 topics relating to 6 main areas of focus.

RESULTS

Attitudes and views on effective future campaigning reflected a desire for greater social inclusion, but did not focus on prevention and health services. Professionals focused on increasing interpersonal skills, people with dementia on normalization, and carers on awareness-raising.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health campaigning and education in relation to dementia, could benefit from closer consideration of perspective and age of recipient in intervention design. Interpersonal skills and social inclusion were identified as key issues.

What does the general public understand about prevention and treatment of dementia? A systematic review of population-based surveys

Objectives

To synthesise results of population surveys assessing knowledge and attitudes about prevention and treatment of dementia.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and grey literature were searched for English language entries published between 2012 and May 2017. Survey questions were grouped using an inductive approach and responses were pooled.

Results

Thirty-four eligible studies and four grey literature items were identified. Surveys were conducted in Europe, the US, Eastern Asia, Israel, and Australia. Nearly half of respondents agreed that dementia is a normal and non-preventable part of ageing, but belief in the potential for prevention may be improving over time. The role of cardiovascular risk factors was poorly understood overall. Less than half of respondents reported belief in the availability of a cure for dementia. The value of seeking treatment was highly endorsed.

Conclusions

Results suggest that knowledge about the potential for dementia prevention and treatment remains poor but may be improving over time. Knowledge among those living in low- and middle-income countries are largely unknown, presenting challenges for the development of National action plans consistent with World Health Organization directives.

Perceptions of Brain Health and Cognition in Older African Americans and Caucasians With HIV: A Focus Group Study

As people age with HIV, cognitive problems may become more prevalent and severe, but lifestyle behaviors (i.e., physical activity) have been shown to protect brain health and cognition. We examined the perceptions that older adults living with HIV have about protecting and improving brain health and cognition through lifestyle behaviors. Qualitative data were analyzed from four focus groups (N = 30) of African Americans and Caucasians living with HIV and at least 50 years of age. An open-coding scheme using conventional content analysis was employed. Two results were found. First, many older adults with HIV in our study expressed a variety of cognitive complaints that interfered with daily function. Second, these participants reported few specific ideas about how such health behaviors were important to their own brain health and cognition. Education interventions may help older adults with HIV learn to improve and protect brain health and cognition as they age.