Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Public Health
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Dementia awareness is crucial for early detection and care.
• Teachers can significantly impact dementia information dissemination.
• Limited research exists on dementia education for teachers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a teacher training course on dementia knowledge.
• To measure changes in dementia knowledge using the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool 2 (DKAT2).

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design with pre- and post-intervention DKAT2 administration via Google Forms.
• Intervention involved a structured teacher formation course on dementia.
• Anonymous surveys collected from primary school teachers in São Paulo state, Brazil.
• Quantitative analysis included paired t-tests to evaluate knowledge changes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in teachers' dementia knowledge post-intervention.
• Increased correct responses regarding dementia causes, symptoms, and appropriate responses.
• Enhanced teacher confidence in supporting students with family members affected by dementia and recognizing cognitive decline.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions effectively enhance teachers' dementia knowledge.
• Informed educators can aid in early dementia recognition and stigma reduction.
• Further research needed on long-term knowledge retention and application.