Awareness of Dementia Risk Reduction Among Current and Future Healthcare Professionals: A Survey Study
Background: The total number of people affected by dementia worldwide is increasing rapidly. Recent studies provided evidence for the contribution of modifiable risk and protective factors to dementia risk. Although healthcare professionals could play an essential role in informing the general publi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jphres.org/index.php/jphres/article/view/1961 |
| _version_ | 1797972609400307712 |
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| author | Femke de Krom Sangavi Sivananthan Farah Alkhotany Martijn Celen Indy Ezra Hol Kylia Houben Pavalya Sivananthan Hanneke Koekebakker Kay Deckers |
| author_facet | Femke de Krom Sangavi Sivananthan Farah Alkhotany Martijn Celen Indy Ezra Hol Kylia Houben Pavalya Sivananthan Hanneke Koekebakker Kay Deckers |
| author_sort | Femke de Krom |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The total number of people affected by dementia worldwide is increasing rapidly. Recent studies provided evidence for the contribution of modifiable risk and protective factors to dementia risk. Although healthcare professionals could play an essential role in informing the general public about the relationship between lifestyle and dementia, it is unclear what they know about this relationship. Therefore, this study assesses the awareness of dementia risk reduction among current and future healthcare professionals.
Methods: An online survey was carried out among 182 healthcare students from Maastricht University and 20 general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses in Limburg, The Netherlands. The survey assessed the knowledge about risk and protective factors of dementia and identified needs, wishes and barriers concerning dementia risk reduction strategies.
Results: The majority of current (75.0%) and future (81.9%) healthcare professionals indicated that dementia risk reduction is possible. Among students, awareness of cardiovascular risk factors of dementia (e.g. coronary heart disease (44.5%), hypertension (53.8%)) was low. Most participants (>70.0%) would like to receive more information about dementia risk reduction.
Conclusions: The majority of current and future healthcare professionals were aware of the relationship between lifestyle and dementia risk. However, there are still substantial gaps in knowledge regarding individual dementia risk factors. Given the essential role of healthcare professionals in providing lifestyle advice, there is a need to increase awareness by providing educational programs focused on dementia risk reduction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:51:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf61336d66c6487889d5ea983d397756 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2279-9028 2279-9036 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:51:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf61336d66c6487889d5ea983d3977562023-01-02T02:03:17ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Public Health Research2279-90282279-90362021-03-0110.4081/jphr.2021.1961Awareness of Dementia Risk Reduction Among Current and Future Healthcare Professionals: A Survey StudyFemke de Krom0Sangavi Sivananthan1Farah Alkhotany2Martijn Celen3Indy Ezra Hol4Kylia Houben5Pavalya Sivananthan6Hanneke Koekebakker7Kay Deckers8Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsFaculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsAlzheimer Centrum Limburg, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsBackground: The total number of people affected by dementia worldwide is increasing rapidly. Recent studies provided evidence for the contribution of modifiable risk and protective factors to dementia risk. Although healthcare professionals could play an essential role in informing the general public about the relationship between lifestyle and dementia, it is unclear what they know about this relationship. Therefore, this study assesses the awareness of dementia risk reduction among current and future healthcare professionals. Methods: An online survey was carried out among 182 healthcare students from Maastricht University and 20 general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses in Limburg, The Netherlands. The survey assessed the knowledge about risk and protective factors of dementia and identified needs, wishes and barriers concerning dementia risk reduction strategies. Results: The majority of current (75.0%) and future (81.9%) healthcare professionals indicated that dementia risk reduction is possible. Among students, awareness of cardiovascular risk factors of dementia (e.g. coronary heart disease (44.5%), hypertension (53.8%)) was low. Most participants (>70.0%) would like to receive more information about dementia risk reduction. Conclusions: The majority of current and future healthcare professionals were aware of the relationship between lifestyle and dementia risk. However, there are still substantial gaps in knowledge regarding individual dementia risk factors. Given the essential role of healthcare professionals in providing lifestyle advice, there is a need to increase awareness by providing educational programs focused on dementia risk reduction.https://www.jphres.org/index.php/jphres/article/view/1961DementiaAwarenessLifestyleRisk factors |
| spellingShingle | Femke de Krom Sangavi Sivananthan Farah Alkhotany Martijn Celen Indy Ezra Hol Kylia Houben Pavalya Sivananthan Hanneke Koekebakker Kay Deckers Awareness of Dementia Risk Reduction Among Current and Future Healthcare Professionals: A Survey Study Journal of Public Health Research Dementia Awareness Lifestyle Risk factors |
| title | Awareness of Dementia Risk Reduction Among Current and Future Healthcare Professionals: A Survey Study |
| title_full | Awareness of Dementia Risk Reduction Among Current and Future Healthcare Professionals: A Survey Study |
| title_fullStr | Awareness of Dementia Risk Reduction Among Current and Future Healthcare Professionals: A Survey Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Awareness of Dementia Risk Reduction Among Current and Future Healthcare Professionals: A Survey Study |
| title_short | Awareness of Dementia Risk Reduction Among Current and Future Healthcare Professionals: A Survey Study |
| title_sort | awareness of dementia risk reduction among current and future healthcare professionals a survey study |
| topic | Dementia Awareness Lifestyle Risk factors |
| url | https://www.jphres.org/index.php/jphres/article/view/1961 |
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