Bryant Jamie, Freund Megan, McGhie Alexandra, Walsh Justin, Rumbel Jennifer, Davis Robert, Leigh Lucy, Leask Sarah
School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Equity in Health and Wellbeing Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia.
Australas J Ageing. 2025 Mar;44(1):e13394. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13394. Epub 2024 Dec 17.
To examine (1) the knowledge of dementia among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and health-care workers providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; (2) the factors associated with higher levels of knowledge about dementia.
An online cross-sectional survey was conducted. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members were recruited through social media advertisements and an online market research platform. Health-care workers (general practitioners, nurses, Aboriginal health workers and allied health professionals) were recruited via emailed invitations from a peak body and a community service organisation. Participants answered an online survey containing 34 true/false items examining knowledge of dementia. Separate linear regressions were used to examine the factors associated with higher levels of knowledge about dementia among community members and health-care workers.
Two hundred and twenty individuals (74 community members and 146 health-care workers) participated. The overall mean knowledge of dementia score for all participants was 26.80 (SD = 4.43). Health-care workers had higher knowledge (M = 27.23, SD = 4.66) than community members (M = 25.96, SD = 3.82, p = .04). Community members with higher levels of education answered 6% (95% CI 1%-11%) more items correctly than participants with lower levels of education. General practitioners and nurses had significantly higher knowledge of dementia; however, health-care workers who provided care to a family member or friend living with dementia had significantly lower knowledge of dementia.
Novel approaches are needed to increase knowledge of dementia amongst both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and health-care workers who provide care to ensure culturally sensitive and effective support.
研究（1）原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民社区成员以及为原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民提供护理的医护人员对痴呆症的认知；（2）与痴呆症知识水平较高相关的因素。
开展了一项在线横断面调查。通过社交媒体广告和一个在线市场研究平台招募原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民社区成员。医护人员（全科医生、护士、原住民健康工作者和专职医疗专业人员）通过一个行业组织和一个社区服务组织发送的电子邮件邀请招募。参与者回答了一项包含34个是非题的在线调查，以考查对痴呆症的认知。分别使用线性回归来研究与社区成员和医护人员中痴呆症知识水平较高相关的因素。
220人（74名社区成员和146名医护人员）参与。所有参与者对痴呆症的总体平均知识得分是26.80（标准差=4.43）。医护人员的知识水平（M=27.23，标准差=4.66）高于社区成员（M=25.96，标准差=3.82，p=0.04）。教育水平较高的社区成员比教育水平较低的参与者正确回答的题目多6%（95%置信区间1%-11%）。全科医生和护士对痴呆症的了解明显更多；然而，为患有痴呆症的家庭成员或朋友提供护理的医护人员对痴呆症的了解明显更少。
需要采用新方法来提高原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民社区成员以及提供护理的医护人员对痴呆症的认知，以确保提供具有文化敏感性和有效的支持。
