Objectives: The following research questions are addressed: (1) What does the German public know about dementia? (2) Are social factors, care experience and contact with dementia patients associated with knowledge about dementia? (3) Is knowledge associated with attitudes/beliefs about dementia?
Methods: Analyses are based on a German mail survey conducted in 2012. Sample consists of persons aged 18-79 years. 1795 persons filled out the questionnaire (response rate 78 %). Respondents were asked about their knowledge of and attitudes about dementia.
Results: Knowledge about cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and life impact of dementia is characterized by a relatively high uncertainty. People with care experiences and people from higher status groups know more about dementia. People with more knowledge are less likely to believe that dementia patients have a high quality of life, but tend to be less skeptical about early detection of dementia.
Conclusions: To increase knowledge, reduce uncertainty and modify attitudes towards dementia and those who are afflicted, educational programs and contact-based approaches should be considered.
Keywords: Attitudes; Beliefs; Dementia; Germany; Knowledge; Survey.