Table 2.
Individual items (Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale).
| False | Probably false | Probably true | True | Don’t know | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Dementia is a normal part of the ageing process | 109 (72.7) | 18 (12.0) | 9 (6.0) | 8 (5.3) | 6 (4.0) |
| 2. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia | 4 (2.7) | 11 (7.3) | 40 (26.7) | 69 (46.0) | 26 (17.3) |
| 3. People can recover from the most common forms of dementia | 135 (90.0) | 14 (9.3) | 1 (0.7) | - | - |
| 4. Dementia does not result from physical changes in the brain | 141 (94.0) | 3 (2.0) | 2 (1.3) | 1 (0.7) | 3 (2.0) |
| 5. Planning for end-of-life care is generally not necessary following a diagnosis of dementia | 113 (75.3) | 17 (11.3) | 3 (2.0) | 10 (6.7) | 7 (4.7) |
| 6. Blood vessel disease (vascular dementia) is the most common form of dementia | 53 (35.3) | 25 (16.7) | 21 (14.0) | 14 (9.3) | 37 (24.7) |
| 7. Most forms of dementia do not generally shorten a person’s life | 59 (39.3) | 44 (29.3) | 15 (10.0) | 17 (11.3) | 15 (10.0) |
| 8. Having high blood pressure increases a person’s risk of developing dementia | 23 (15.3) | 13 (8.7) | 37 (24.7) | 41 (27.3) | 36 (24.0) |
| 9. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle does not reduce the risk of developing the most common forms of dementia | 69 (46.0) | 38 (25.3) | 19 (12.7) | 16 (10.7) | 8 (5.3) |
| 10. Symptoms of depression can be mistaken for symptoms of dementia | 11 (7.3) | 10 (6.7) | 33 (22.0) | 81 (54.0) | 15 (10.0) |
| 11. Exercise is generally beneficial for people experiencing dementia | 1 (0.7) | - | 32 (21.3) | 113 (75.3) | 4 (2.7) |
| 12. Early diagnosis of dementia does not generally improve quality of life for people experiencing the condition | 71 (47.3) | 32 (21.3) | 15 (10.0) | 22 (14.7) | 10 (6.7) |
| 13. The sudden onset of cognitive problems is characteristic of common forms of dementia | 45 (30.0) | 26 (17.3) | 22 (14.7) | 45 (30.0) | 12 (8.0) |
| 14. It is impossible to communicate with a person who has advanced dementia | 88 (58.7) | 29 (19.3) | 12 (8.0) | 13 (8.7) | 8 (5.3) |
| 15. A person experiencing advanced dementia will not generally respond to changes in their physical environment | 79 (52.7) | 23 (15.3) | 17 (11.3) | 21 (14.0) | 10 (6.7) |
| 16. It is important to correct a person with dementia when they are confused | 117 (78.0) | 14 (9.3) | 9 (6.0) | 4 (2.7) | 6 (4.0) |
| 17. People experiencing advanced dementia often communicate through body language | 11 (7.3) | 11 (7.3) | 33 (22.0) | 75 (50.0) | 20 (13.3) |
| 18. Uncharacteristic behaviours in a person experiencing dementia are generally a response to unmet needs | 25 (16.7) | 6 (4.0) | 50 (33.3) | 44 (29.3) | 25 (16.7) |
| 19. Medications are the most effective way of treating behavioural symptoms of dementia. (Missing n = 1) | 56 (37.3) | 28 (18.7) | 21 (14.0) | 13 (8.7) | 31 (20.7) |
| 20. People experiencing dementia do not generally have problems making decisions | 130 (86.7) | 12 (8.0) | 3 (2.0) | 2 (1.3) | 3 (2.0) |
| 21. Movement is generally affected in the later stages of dementia | 3 (2.0) | 4 (2.7) | 30 (20.0) | 102 (68.0) | 11 (7.3) |
| 22. People with advanced dementia may have difficulty speaking | 3 (2.0) | 1 (0.7) | 8 (5.3) | 134 (89.3) | 4 (2.7) |
| 23. People experiencing dementia often have difficulty learning new skills | - | 4 (2.7) | 16 (10.7) | 130 (86.7) | - |
| 24. Difficulty eating and drinking generally occurs in the later stages of dementia | 2 (1.3) | - | 23 (15.3) | 119 (79.3) | 6 (4.0) |
| 25. Daily care for a person with advanced dementia is effective when it focuses on providing comfort | 2 (1.3) | - | 32 (21.3) | 111 (74.0) | 5 (3.3) |
Green shading indicates correct answer.