Table 3.
The 25-item DKAS, confirmed domains, and standardised factor loadings
| Item # | Statement content | Domains / factor names | Standardised loadings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Most forms of dementia do not generally shorten a person’s life [False] | Causes and characteristics | .616 |
| 2 | Blood vessel disease (vascular dementia) is the most common form of dementia [False] | Causes and characteristics | .651 |
| 3 | People can recover from the most common forms of dementia [False] | Causes and characteristics | .447 |
| 4 | Dementia is a normal part of the ageing process [False] | Causes and characteristics | .382 |
| 5 | Dementia does not result from physical changes in the brain [False] | Causes and characteristics | .369 |
| 6 | Planning for end of life care is generally not necessary following a diagnosis of dementia [False] | Causes and characteristics | .463 |
| 7 | Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia [True] | Causes and characteristics | .578 |
| 8 | It is impossible to communicate with a person who has advanced dementia [False] | Communication and behaviour | .529 |
| 9 | A person experiencing advanced dementia will not generally respond to changes in their physical environment [False] | Communication and behaviour | .572 |
| 10 | It is important to correct a person with dementia when they are confused [False] | Communication and behaviour | .369 |
| 11 | People experiencing advanced dementia often communicate through body language [True] | Communication and behaviour | .627 |
| 12 | Uncharacteristic behaviours in a person experiencing dementia are generally a response to unmet needs [True] | Communication and behaviour | .574 |
| 13 | Medications are the most effective way of treating behavioural symptoms of dementia [False] | Communication and behaviour | .554 |
| 14 | People experiencing dementia do not generally have problems making decisions [False] | Care considerations | .477 |
| 15 | Movement is generally affected in the later stages of dementia [True] | Care considerations | .664 |
| 16 | Difficulty eating and drinking generally occurs in the later stages of dementia [True] | Care considerations | .668 |
| 17 | People with advanced dementia may have difficulty speaking [True] | Care considerations | .729 |
| 18 | People experiencing dementia often have difficulty learning new skills [True] | Care considerations | .429 |
| 19 | Daily care for a person with advanced dementia is effective when it focuses on providing comfort [True] | Care considerations | .498 |
| 20 | Having high blood pressure increases a person’s risk of developing dementia [True] | Risks and health promotion | .520 |
| 21 | Maintaining a healthy lifestyle does not reduce the risk of developing the most common forms of dementia [False] | Risks and health promotion | .521 |
| 22 | Symptoms of depression can be mistaken for symptoms of dementia [True] | Risks and health promotion | .510 |
| 23 | The sudden onset of cognitive problems is characteristic of common forms of dementia [False] | Risks and health promotion | .412 |
| 24 | Exercise is generally beneficial for people experiencing dementia [True] | Risks and health promotion | .526 |
| 25 | Early diagnosis of dementia does not generally improve quality of life for people experiencing the condition [False] | Risks and health promotion | .482 |