TY - JOUR

T1 - Feasibility of a culturally tailored dementia information program for minority ethnic communities in Denmark

AU - Nielsen, T. Rune

AU - Nielsen, Dorthe S.

AU - Waldemar, Gunhild

N1 - Funding Information: The authors are grateful to all participants for their valuable contributions. This research was supported by THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS [grant number 00017257], which had no role in the formulation of research questions, choice of study design, data collection, data analysis or decision to publish. The Danish Dementia Research Centre is supported by the Danish Ministry of Health. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Objectives: Proactive efforts that take language and cultural barriers into consideration may be needed to raise awareness of dementia and improve access to services in minority ethnic communities. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a culturally tailored dementia information program and the immediate effects on participants' intention to seek help for memory problems, their knowledge and beliefs about dementia, and their knowledge about options for support. Methods: A novel dementia information program, consisting of one 2-h session, was developed through a collaborative research process with primary care dementia coordinators and multicultural link workers as co-researchers. It provides basic knowledge about dementia to minority ethnic communities and can be delivered in a community setting by non-specialists. Results: Six information program sessions were conducted with a total of 110 participants; 65 Turkish, 19 Pakistani, 20 Arabic-speaking, and 6 with another minority ethnic heritage. The program had a significant effect on participants' immediate knowledge and beliefs about dementia as measured with a quiz (z = −2.02, p = 0.04, d = 0.90). In a post-program focus group meeting, facilitating multicultural link workers reported satisfaction with facilitator training, adopted recruitment strategies, and content and delivery of the information sessions and provided feedback on improving the program. Conclusions: The results provide support for the feasibility of the culturally tailored dementia information program. The program has the potential to improve knowledge and beliefs about dementia and options for formal support in minority ethnic communities and seems easily implemented in existing services, and at a low cost.

AB - Objectives: Proactive efforts that take language and cultural barriers into consideration may be needed to raise awareness of dementia and improve access to services in minority ethnic communities. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a culturally tailored dementia information program and the immediate effects on participants' intention to seek help for memory problems, their knowledge and beliefs about dementia, and their knowledge about options for support. Methods: A novel dementia information program, consisting of one 2-h session, was developed through a collaborative research process with primary care dementia coordinators and multicultural link workers as co-researchers. It provides basic knowledge about dementia to minority ethnic communities and can be delivered in a community setting by non-specialists. Results: Six information program sessions were conducted with a total of 110 participants; 65 Turkish, 19 Pakistani, 20 Arabic-speaking, and 6 with another minority ethnic heritage. The program had a significant effect on participants' immediate knowledge and beliefs about dementia as measured with a quiz (z = −2.02, p = 0.04, d = 0.90). In a post-program focus group meeting, facilitating multicultural link workers reported satisfaction with facilitator training, adopted recruitment strategies, and content and delivery of the information sessions and provided feedback on improving the program. Conclusions: The results provide support for the feasibility of the culturally tailored dementia information program. The program has the potential to improve knowledge and beliefs about dementia and options for formal support in minority ethnic communities and seems easily implemented in existing services, and at a low cost.

KW - dementia

KW - knowledge

KW - minority groups

KW - services

U2 - 10.1002/gps.5656

DO - 10.1002/gps.5656

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34762345

AN - SCOPUS:85119276652

VL - 37

SP - 1

EP - 8

JO - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

JF - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

SN - 0885-6230

IS - 1

ER -