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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Dame Louise Robinson, Dr Claire Dickinson, Dr Eleni Magklara, Dr Lisa Newton, Laura Prato, Claire BamfordORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to critically explore the views of the public about the acceptability and feasibility of proactive approaches to earlier dementia diagnosis and also identification of people at high risk of dementia. DESIGN: Qualitative study using task group methodology and thematic data analysis. SETTING: Task groups were held either at the university (n=5) or at a carers' centre (n=1). PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 31 of 54 participants identified by local non-statutory agencies took part in a task group. All were aged between 40 years and 80 years, 21 were women and 10men participated. RESULTS: Despite the use of task group methodology, participants expressed limited understandings of dementia and confusion between proactive approaches. Nevertheless, they highlighted a range of potential benefits and limitations of proactive approaches and the ethical issues raised. There was a preference to embed risk assessment within routine health checks, which focused on achieving a healthier lifestyle, rather than specifically on dementia. Participants emphasised the need to ensure informed consent prior to use of proactive approaches and to provide appropriate support. They also suggested alternative approaches that could potentially facilitate the early detection of dementia or reduce risk at a population level. CONCLUSIONS: As international policy on dementia shifts towards a prevention agenda there is growing interest in identifying those at risk of developing dementia. This study provides useful insights into the acceptability of the use of such proactive approaches among the public. The introduction of proactive approaches to dementia identification raises complex practical and ethical issues, particularly in the context of low public understanding of dementia. The importance of better quality information about dementia (and the likelihood of developing dementia) and provision of psychological support for those undergoing risk assessment were highlighted.
Author(s): Robinson L, Dickinson C, Magklara E, Newton L, Prato L, Bamford C
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: BMJ Open
Year: 2018
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Online publication date: 03/02/2018
Acceptance date: 13/12/2017
Date deposited: 03/09/2018
ISSN (electronic): 2044-6055
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018677
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018677
PubMed id: 29431130
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