Building dementia knowledge globally through the Understanding Dementia Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Neuroscience Education

Background:

• Global dementia prevalence is rising, creating significant barriers to care and community inclusion.
• Knowledge deficits regarding dementia hinder effective support and integration of affected individuals.
• Comprehensive dementia education is a critical priority in global health action plans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Understanding Dementia Massive Open Online Course (UDMOOC) in improving dementia knowledge.
• To assess the UDMOOC's impact on knowledge across diverse international learner groups with varying backgrounds and experiences.
• To determine if the UDMOOC serves as a viable knowledge translation strategy for dementia.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of baseline and post-course knowledge assessments from UDMOOC participants (2016-2017).
• Comparison of knowledge improvements across participant groups based on educational background and prior dementia exposure.
• Correlation of baseline knowledge with factors such as family history and professional experience with dementia.

Main Results:

• Baseline dementia knowledge was associated with prior learning and personal/professional exposure to dementia.
• Significant knowledge improvements were observed in all participant groups after completing the UDMOOC.
• The UDMOOC effectively minimized pre-existing knowledge differences among participants post-completion.

Conclusions:

• The UDMOOC is a successful knowledge translation strategy for enhancing dementia understanding.
• The online course effectively improves dementia knowledge for a broad, international audience.
• The UDMOOC contributes to bridging knowledge gaps, promoting better care and inclusiveness for people with dementia.