Public Knowledge about Dementia in Poland-A Survey Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Gerontology

Background:

• Dementia prevalence is rising globally, necessitating increased public awareness of modifiable risk factors for prevention.
• Early dementia diagnosis can potentially slow disease progression and enhance patient quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the level of public knowledge regarding dementia and its associated risk factors within Poland.

Main Methods:

• A self-constructed questionnaire was administered to 304 participants in 2022.
• Computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) was employed for data collection.

Main Results:

• The average knowledge score was 16.95 out of 23.6, indicating suboptimal understanding.
• Individuals affiliated with the medical community scored significantly higher than those unrelated (p=0.0001).
• Age showed a moderate negative correlation with knowledge scores (R=-0.44, p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• Dementia knowledge in Poland requires significant improvement, particularly concerning risk factors.
• Targeted educational initiatives for families and caregivers of individuals with dementia are recommended.