Background: Based on worldwide estimates, the number of people with dementia will increase significantly in the coming decades. Therefore, knowledge about dementia and its modifiable risk factors plays a crucial role in prevention. Although dementia is still incurable, an early diagnosis might help to slow down its progression and improve the quality of patients' lives. The aim of the study was to assess public knowledge about dementia and its risk factors in Poland.
Methods: The research was conducted in 2022 using a self-constructed questionnaire by applying computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI).
Results: A total of 304 completed surveys were obtained (mean score of 16.95 ± 2.79 points out of 23.6). The scores were significantly higher for people associated with the medical community in comparison to those unrelated to the medical community (18.23 ± 2.61 and 16.15 ± 2.59, respectively; p = 0.0001). A moderate negative correlation was found between the results and the ages of the respondents (R = -0.44; p = 0.001). No statistically significant differences were reported in the results between people involved in providing care to patients with dementia or those who had a patient with dementia in the family and those who were not involved in such care or had no relative with dementia.
Conclusions: Knowledge about dementia and its risk factors in Poland is not satisfactory and should be improved. Special attention should be paid to educating the families and caregivers of people with dementia.
Keywords: dementia; health education; knowledge; risk factors.