Using Health Information Resources for People With Cognitive Impairment (digiDEM Bayern): Registry-Based Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Communication

Background:

• Dementia poses a significant global health challenge, exacerbated by underdiagnosis due to public knowledge gaps.
• Improving dementia literacy is vital for self-management among affected individuals.
• Understanding information-seeking behaviors in cognitive impairment is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the relevance of various health information sources for individuals with cognitive impairment.
• To evaluate how age, gender, and disease progression influence information source preference.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the "Digital Dementia Registry Bavaria - digiDEM Bayern" project.
• Assessed 924 individuals with cognitive impairment (dementia and mild cognitive impairment).
• Participants rated information sources using Likert scales; data analyzed descriptively with t-tests and ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Medical professionals and family/friends were the most valued information sources.
• The internet was rated as unimportant by 74% of participants.
• Significant differences in source valuation were observed based on age, cognitive status, and gender.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal communication with medical professionals and personal networks is key for health information delivery.
• Information source preferences shift with disease progression, age, and gender.
• Further research is needed on the evolving role of the internet as a health information source.