Public Health.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Gerontology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Existing dementia prevention programs often overlook multicultural communities, contributing to health inequities.
• Australia's diverse population necessitates culturally tailored health interventions.
• The MindCare project addresses this gap by co-developing dementia prevention programs for specific linguistic communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-design culturally adapted dementia prevention programs for Hindi, Vietnamese, Greek, and Arabic-speaking communities in Australia.
• To ensure programs are evidence-based while incorporating community-specific cultural preferences and practices.
• To create accessible and engaging dementia prevention resources for multicultural populations.

Main Methods:

• Employed co-design methodologies, including the nominal group technique and individual consultations, for cultural adaptation.
• Utilized the Think-Aloud method for user testing to refine program materials.
• Incorporated iterative feedback from community members, experts, and service providers throughout the development process.

Main Results:

• A prototype based on the Lancet Commission report was refined through workshops and consultations with 37 participants.
• Culturally specific foods, activities, and practices were integrated into four bilingual versions of the program.
• User testing led to 15 final adjustments, enhancing cultural sensitivity, engagement, and learning balance.

Conclusions:

• The rigorous co-design process ensured the MindCare programs met diverse cultural needs while maintaining scientific rigor.
• Flexibility and iterative feedback were crucial for delivering four culturally tailored community-education programs.
• The MindCare programs will be evaluated via a national randomized controlled trial and made freely available online.