Dementia Literacy among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Urban China: A Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: Delay in seeking diagnosis of dementia is common in China. Misinformation and poor knowledge about dementia may contribute to it. The study was designed to explore the nationwide dementia literacy among older adults in urban China and to investigate the factors associated with overall dementia literacy. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 3,439 community-dwelling old adults aged 60 and over was recruited from 34 cities in 20 provinces between June 20 and August 20, 2014. All participants were administered the face-to-face mental health literacy questionnaire, which included the prevalence, symptoms, intention, and options for treatment of dementia. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with overall dementia literacy. RESULTS: = 1.256, 95% CI (1.022-1.543)], having lower per capita annual income OR = 1.314, 95% CI (1.064-1.623), lower education OR = 1.462, 95% CI (1.162-1.839), and suspected depression OR = 1.248, 95% CI (1.009-1.543) were negatively associated with overall dementia literacy. CONCLUSION: Dementia literacy among community-dwelling older adults in urban China remains very low, in particular about the impact of dementia and appropriate treatment personnel. Community educational programs aiming to close this knowledge gap are encouraged to focus on those in the population at highest risk of low dementia literacy.