Knowledge and attitudes towards dementia in a sample of medical residents from a university-hospital in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

An estimated 61% of the 24.3 million people diagnosed with dementia worldwide live in underdeveloped countries, including Brazil, where a public healthcare system covers the majority of the population. This care is usually provided by General Practitioners (GP) and in Brazil many doctors recently graduated from medical school and residents of different medical specialties practice as GPs.Objective:The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and attitudes about dementia in a sample of Brazilian medical residents from a university-hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods:A total of 152 Brazilian medical residents participated in the study. Participants answered a "Knowledge Quiz" (KQ) and "Attitude Quiz" (AQ) about dementia issues, transculturally adapted for use in Brazilian physicians. A descriptive analysis of the correct answers on knowledge and of the attitude aspects was performed. Results:The medical residents showed poor knowledge (<50%) about dementia prevalence and incidence and a good knowledge on disease management and diagnosis. Participants tended to be optimistic about caring for demented patients. Conclusion:In this study, it is likely that the physicians' good knowledge about dementia issues is the reason for their optimism dealing with demented patients.

Knowledge and attitudes towards dementia among final-year medical students in Brazil

“…A single Brazilian study has investigated knowledge and attitudes towards dementia by medical residents. 12 The results of our study regarding the profile of training received by the students during the medical course contrast with other studies in the area, given that 92 (59.74%) of the students analyzed reported having received good training in cognitive alterations, whereas in the other studies, there was variation from 29 to 47.6%. 8,13,14 The medical students analyzed achieved a mean of 6.9 in the general score of the knowledge questionnaire (on a scale ranging from 0 to 14 points), with the highest percentage of correct answers being in questions on epidemiology.…”

Effects of attachment to and participation in the community on motivation to participate in dementia prevention and support activities: analysis of Web survey data

“…Activities that increase awareness of dementia have been encouraged to promote social inclusion for people with dementia. Previous studies have reported that these activities have had positive effects on the inclusion of people with dementia, as well as on the frequency of contact with individuals with dementia and the public's knowledge of dementia . Knowledge has also been reported to decrease stigma, which could lead to social acceptance of dementia .…”

“…Previous studies have reported that these activities have had positive effects on the inclusion of people with dementia, as well as on the frequency of contact with individuals with dementia and the public's knowledge of dementia. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Knowledge has also been reported to decrease stigma, which could lead to social acceptance of dementia. 10 However, some studies have shown that knowledge does not always lead to acceptance, and further promotion of activities that increase awareness is encouraged.…”

“…1); the effects of demographic characteristics and involvement with dementia were not included because their effects were revealed in previous studies. [5][6][7][8] The six hypotheses examined in this study were as follows:…”

How are medics approaching people with dementia in Latin America?

“…It is estimated that 60% of all people living with dementia today reside in low and middle-income countries like those in Latin America, and this proportion is expected to increase (World Alzheimer Report 2015). Unfortunately, physicians seem to have a poor knowledge about this condition (Richly et al, 2018), and this may impact their approach to subjects with dementia (Jacinto et al, 2016).…”