Public awareness of dementia: A study in Botucatu, a medium-sized city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil
Abstract Dementia is a progressive and debilitating disease affecting an increasing number of people worldwide. Despite its importance, only a few studies have examined public awareness of dementia. We present a study of the public awareness of dementia in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A sa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento
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| Series: | Dementia & Neuropsychologia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642008000300192&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1811304217801916416 |
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| author | Arthur Oscar Schelp Andrea Bruno Nieri Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho Alessandra Martins Bales Cristiane Lara Mendes-Chiloff |
| author_facet | Arthur Oscar Schelp Andrea Bruno Nieri Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho Alessandra Martins Bales Cristiane Lara Mendes-Chiloff |
| author_sort | Arthur Oscar Schelp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Dementia is a progressive and debilitating disease affecting an increasing number of people worldwide. Despite its importance, only a few studies have examined public awareness of dementia. We present a study of the public awareness of dementia in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A sample of 73 individuals answered a questionnaire approved by the Medical Ethics Research Committee inquiring about the characteristics of healthy old-aged and demented individuals. Results: Those interviewed believed that dementia is characterized by prevalent memory impairment (41%) and behavioral changes (32.9%) with onset in the 60's or older (42.5%) and upon suspecting dementia, only a few would seek specialized medical help. Discussion: Better understanding of public awareness of dementia provides the clue to more effective health and social policies in order to achieve a higher rate of early diagnosis and thereby possibly decreasing patient, family and caregiver distress. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:02:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-136424ee1339427eac6d0a35d297c00e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1980-5764 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:02:07Z |
| publisher | Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dementia & Neuropsychologia |
| spelling | doaj.art-136424ee1339427eac6d0a35d297c00e2022-12-22T02:55:15ZengAssociação Neurologia Cognitiva e do ComportamentoDementia & Neuropsychologia1980-57642319219610.1590/S1980-57642009DN20300005S1980-57642008000300192Public awareness of dementia: A study in Botucatu, a medium-sized city in the State of São Paulo, BrazilArthur Oscar SchelpAndrea Bruno NieriPedro Tadao Hamamoto FilhoAlessandra Martins BalesCristiane Lara Mendes-ChiloffAbstract Dementia is a progressive and debilitating disease affecting an increasing number of people worldwide. Despite its importance, only a few studies have examined public awareness of dementia. We present a study of the public awareness of dementia in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A sample of 73 individuals answered a questionnaire approved by the Medical Ethics Research Committee inquiring about the characteristics of healthy old-aged and demented individuals. Results: Those interviewed believed that dementia is characterized by prevalent memory impairment (41%) and behavioral changes (32.9%) with onset in the 60's or older (42.5%) and upon suspecting dementia, only a few would seek specialized medical help. Discussion: Better understanding of public awareness of dementia provides the clue to more effective health and social policies in order to achieve a higher rate of early diagnosis and thereby possibly decreasing patient, family and caregiver distress.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642008000300192&lng=en&tlng=endementiaAlzheimer's diseaseelderly populationpublic awareness. |
| spellingShingle | Arthur Oscar Schelp Andrea Bruno Nieri Pedro Tadao Hamamoto Filho Alessandra Martins Bales Cristiane Lara Mendes-Chiloff Public awareness of dementia: A study in Botucatu, a medium-sized city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil Dementia & Neuropsychologia dementia Alzheimer's disease elderly population public awareness. |
| title | Public awareness of dementia: A study in Botucatu, a medium-sized city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_full | Public awareness of dementia: A study in Botucatu, a medium-sized city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Public awareness of dementia: A study in Botucatu, a medium-sized city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public awareness of dementia: A study in Botucatu, a medium-sized city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_short | Public awareness of dementia: A study in Botucatu, a medium-sized city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil |
| title_sort | public awareness of dementia a study in botucatu a medium sized city in the state of sao paulo brazil |
| topic | dementia Alzheimer's disease elderly population public awareness. |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642008000300192&lng=en&tlng=en |
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