Lazarova Sophia, Petrova-Antonova Dessislava
GATE Institute, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Sofia, 1504, Bulgaria.
Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Sofia, 1504, Bulgaria.
Arch Public Health. 2024 Dec 23;82(1):242. doi: 10.1186/s13690-024-01476-1.
With the global population aging rapidly, dementia has become a pressing public health challenge, affecting the cognitive functions and daily activities of older adults worldwide. Enhancing literacy about dementia is a proactive prevention strategy, yet the effectiveness of educational programs can vary based on the target population's background. Thus, understanding dementia knowledge levels across different communities and countries is essential for successful educational interventions. Despite the large аmount of studies, there is no common framework for studying dementia knowledge, leading to significant variability in methods and poor data comparability.
A narrative review is conducted to examine the methodological variability in studies of dementia knowledge and to propose a unified framework for future investigations. We hypothesize that significant differences will be evident in the methodologies employed, particularly regarding knowledge domains, research designs, influencing factors, and assessments of attitudes toward dementia.
A total of 59 research publications published after 2000 were selected, revealing significant variability in approaches to studying dementia knowledge and confirming our hypothesis. We identified eight dementia knowledge domains and various sociodemographic and experiential correlates, along with commonly used complementary assessments. These findings were organized into a unified global framework comprising two core components-dementia knowledge domains and correlates-supplemented by a component addressing affective dispositions towards dementia and an action list to guide future research. The framework aims to provide a foundational basis for enhancing inter-study comparisons and deepening our understanding of dementia knowledge and attitudes across diverse communities.
Aligning methodologies for surveying dementia knowledge through a common framework can empower stakeholders to implement effective educational programs, fostering an informed and supportive environment for individuals affected by dementia.
随着全球人口迅速老龄化，痴呆症已成为一项紧迫的公共卫生挑战，影响着全世界老年人的认知功能和日常活动。提高对痴呆症的认知是一种积极的预防策略，然而教育项目的效果可能因目标人群的背景而异。因此，了解不同社区和国家的痴呆症知识水平对于成功的教育干预至关重要。尽管有大量研究，但目前尚无研究痴呆症知识的通用框架，导致研究方法差异很大，数据可比性差。
进行一项叙述性综述，以检查痴呆症知识研究中的方法学差异，并为未来的调查提出一个统一框架。我们假设在所采用的方法上会有显著差异，特别是在知识领域、研究设计、影响因素以及对痴呆症态度的评估方面。
共选取了2000年后发表的59篇研究论文，结果显示在研究痴呆症知识的方法上存在显著差异，证实了我们的假设。我们确定了八个痴呆症知识领域以及各种社会人口统计学和经验相关因素，以及常用的补充评估方法。这些发现被整理成一个统一的全球框架，该框架由两个核心部分组成——痴呆症知识领域和相关因素，并辅以一个涉及对痴呆症情感倾向的部分以及一份指导未来研究的行动清单。该框架旨在为加强研究间的比较以及深化我们对不同社区痴呆症知识和态度的理解提供一个基础。
通过一个共同框架使痴呆症知识调查方法保持一致，能够使利益相关者实施有效的教育项目，为受痴呆症影响的个人营造一个信息充分且支持性的环境。
