Table 2 Primary health providers’ dementia knowledge
Items | Number of participants at the commune level answered correctly (n;%) (n = 275) | Number of participants at the district level answered correctly (n;%) (n = 130) | Total (n; %) (n = 405) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Definition | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Dementia is a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with everyday life | 173 (62.9) | 79 (60.8) | 252 (62.2) | > 0.05 |
Early symptom and Diagnosis | Â | |||
Early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is impaired memory. | 197 (71.6) | 108 (83.1) | 305 (75.3) | < 0.05 |
Post-mortem procedures can confirm a diagnosis of dementia. | 2 (0.7) | 0 (0) | 2 (0.5) | > 0.05 |
Delirium can be caused by Infection, Dehydration, Medication. | 223 (81.1) | 111 (85.4) | 334 (82.5) | > 0.05 |
When a person develops a sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, and inability to sustain attention, this presentation is most consistent with the diagnosis of Delirium | 26 (9.5) | 16 (12.3) | 42 (10.4) | > 0.05 |
It is important to rule out and treat reversible diseases | 102 (37.1) | 51 (39.2) | 153 (37.8) | > 0.05 |
Treatment | Â | |||
Not all types of dementia are progressive and can be cured | 192 (69.8) | 83 (63.8) | 275 (67.9) | > 0.05 |
Anti-dementia drugs can temporarily halt or slow the progression of symptoms in some patients | 185 (67.3) | 97 (74.6) | 282(69.6) | > 0.05 |
If someone with dementia is also depressed, anti-depressant drugs can sometimes work | 172 (62.5) | 74 (56.9) | 246 (60.7) | > 0.05 |
Risk and protective factors | Â | |||
Depression, some medications and stress can cause memory loss | 227 (82.5) | 115 (88.5) | 342 (84.4) | > 0.05 |
A good balance diet helps brain functioning in healthy adults | 87 (31.6) | 39 (30.0) | 126 (31.1) | > 0.05 |
Drinking a lot of alcohol decreases brain functioning in healthy adults. | 131 (47.6) | 76 (58.5) | 207 (51.1) | < 0.05 |
Epidemiology | Â | |||
5-10% of people age over 65 are likely to have dementia. | 149 (54.2) | 72 (55.4) | 221 (54.6) | > 0.05 |
Total score of knowldege (Mean; SD)- Median(Min-Max) | (6.8; 2.1)- 7.0 (0; 11) | (7.1; 1.9)- 7.0 (2; 11) | (6.9; 2.1) – 7.0 (0; 11) | > 0.05 |