Prevenção da demência

: construção e estudo de viabilidade e aceitabilidade de um programa de psicoeducação em grupo sobre os fatores protetores e de risco na demência: programa DemenPrevAWARE

Abstract

Introduction: Dementia is considered a public health priority by the World Health Organisation since 2017 and the number of people suffering from dementia is expected to triple by 2050. Therefore, the possibility of dementia prevention is increasingly recognised as a necessity. Intervention in the principle of dementia prevention is crucial, once that there is no treatment for any of the common forms of the syndrome. Delaying the beginning of the disease may be beneficial, even in advanced adulthood, thus justifying the necessity to create validation studies in this field. This study consists in a group on-site preventive intervention directed towards the psychoeducation on the themes related with modifiable risk factors to cognitive decline and the knowledge about the brain in the process of healthy and pathological ageing. Objectives: The overall objective of this study is to validate and assess the feasibility and acceptability of a psychoeducation programme in group regarding both the risk and protection factors of dementia in a sample of older people who show a light to moderate risk of developing dementia – the DemenPrevAWARE programme. The specific objectives are: evaluating the retention and accession rate, evaluating the degree of satisfaction, the acceptability of the programme and the outcome of its effectiveness in the participants’ knowledge on dementia. Methodology: This is an exploratory quasi-experimental study of convenience sampling carried out with the participation of 10 individuals between the ages of 64 and 86 who presented a light to moderate risk of developing dementia and without any sensorial and/or cognitive deficits. A focus group methodology was used to assess the validity of the content and of the dynamics used throughout the 6 psychoeducation sessions. In order to assess the feasibility of the programme, the participants answered motivation and satisfaction questionnaires at the end of each session and at the end of the programme. They also answered the QED instrument (Questionário sobre o Envelhecimento e Demência) at the end of the programme. The approach used was cross-sectional and longitudinal. The participants made a pre and post programme assessment to find out the effect of the programme implementation, which lasted 6 weeks, on their knowledge about dementia and risk factors. Results: This study presented an excellent level of recruitment, attendance, adherence, final retention, motivation and global satisfaction. As far as the statistic analysis of the programme is concerned, the results found between the two assessment moments are considered significant regarding the knowledge on dementia. There was a positive effect in the knowledge on preventing dementia and on the modifiable risk factors. However, the small sample size and the absence of a control group require caution in the interpretation of results. Conclusion: This programme presented an excellent level of acceptability and feasibility. The participants stated they would recommend the programme to their relatives and/or friends and also that they would participate in the programme again. In future studies it would be important to implement the programme in a higher scale as an efficacy randomised study.

Date of Award	19 Dec 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Ana Rita Esteves de Sousa e Silva (Supervisor) & Maria Vânia Silva Nunes (Supervisor)