University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

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.

Funding

Dementia Australia Research Foundation Ltd

History

Publication title

Australian Journal of Rural Health

Article number

ePub ahead of print

Number

ePub ahead of print

Pagination

1-8

ISSN

1038-5282

Department/School

Wicking Dementia Research Education Centre

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

© 2021 National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Health education and promotion; Health related to ageing

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC