Dementia knowledge among caregivers with and without training in Lima-Peru

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Gerontology

Background:

• Global dementia prevalence is rising, particularly in low- and middle-income nations such as Peru.
• Effective caregiver training enhances patient quality of life, reduces behavioral issues, and prevents caregiver burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess dementia knowledge levels in trained versus untrained informal caregivers in Lima, Peru.
• To compare the effectiveness of a virtual caregiver training program on dementia knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involved 102 informal dementia caregivers, divided into trained (n=51) and untrained (n=51) groups.
• The training program included 10 annual virtual meetings covering dementia types, behavioral symptom management, non-pharmacological interventions, and caregiver well-being.
• Dementia knowledge was measured using the Spanish Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS-S), with data analyzed via Student's t-test (p<0.05).

Main Results:

• Trained caregivers achieved significantly higher DKAS-S scores (mean=18, SD=2.72) compared to untrained caregivers (mean=16, SD=2.6) (p=0.001).
• Higher education levels showed a moderate correlation with better dementia knowledge scores.
• Significant knowledge gaps were observed in early dementia symptoms, advanced care planning, and behavioral symptom management, with up to 70% incorrect responses on some items.

Conclusions:

• Dementia caregiver training leads to superior knowledge compared to untrained individuals.
• The findings underscore the critical need for enhanced community access to comprehensive and high-quality dementia care education.