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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2021; 79(02): 107-113
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X-anp-2020-0051
Article

Knowledge and attitudes in dementia held by general practitioners in the primary care setting of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

Conhecimentos e atitudes em demência por parte de clínicos gerais do setor de atendimento primário de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil
Vânia Ferreira de Sá Mayoral 
1   Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Botucatu SP, Brazil.
,
Paulo José Fortes Villas Boas 
1   Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Botucatu SP, Brazil.
,
Alessandro Ferrari Jacinto 
2   Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Departamento de Medicina, Disciplina de Geriatria e Gerontologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
3   Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Ambulatório de Medicina Geral e Familiar, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
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ABSTRACT

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Despite alarming evidence on dementia prevalence, the condition is still underdiagnosed by general practitioners (GPs) in primary care. Early detection of the disease is beneficial for patients and relatives, who should be provided comprehensive guidance on dealing with dementia complications, covering medical, family and social aspects, thereby providing an opportunity to plan for the future. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of and attitudes toward dementia held by GPs from a city in the interior of São Paulo State, Brazil. Methods: A non-randomized intervention study was conducted involving six lectures about dementia. Before and after the intervention, the participating physicians completed two quizzes about knowledge of and attitudes towards dementia. The study was carried out in the primary care services of the town and a total of 34 GPs participated in the study. Results: The mean age of the sample was 33.9 (±10.2) years and the majority (76.5%) of the sample had not undertaken medical residency training. The mean number of correct answers on the Knowledge Quiz about dementia before and after the training intervention was 59.6 and 71.2% (p<0.001), respectively. The comparison of the mean responses on the Attitude Quiz revealed no statistically significant difference between the two applications of the instrument, before and after intervention (p=0.059). Conclusions: More training for GPs on dementia should be provided.

RESUMO

Introdução: A doença de Alzheimer é a principal causa de demência em todo o mundo. Apesar das evidências alarmantes sobre a prevalência de demência, a condição ainda é subdiagnosticada por clínicos gerais na atenção primária. A detecção precoce da doença é benéfica para pacientes e familiares, que devem receber orientações abrangentes sobre como lidar com as complicações relacionadas às demências, abrangendo aspectos médicos, familiares e sociais, proporcionando assim uma oportunidade de planejar o futuro. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os conhecimentos e as atitudes em relação à demência por parte de clínicos gerais de uma cidade do interior de São Paulo, Brasil. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo de intervenção não randomizado, envolvendo seis palestras sobre demência. Antes e depois da intervenção, os médicos participantes completaram dois questionários sobre conhecimentos e atitudes em relação à demência. O estudo foi realizado nos serviços de atenção primária da cidade e um total de 34 clínicos gerais participaram do estudo. Resultados: A idade média da amostra foi de 33,9 (±10,2) anos e a maioria (76,5%) da amostra não havia realizado treinamento em residência médica. O número médio de respostas corretas no Questionário do Conhecimento sobre demência antes e após a intervenção de treinamento foi de 59,6 e 71,2% (p<0,001), respectivamente. A comparação das respostas médias no questionário de atitudes não revelou diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as duas aplicações do instrumento, antes e após a intervenção (p=0,059). Conclusões: Deve ser fornecido mais treinamento sobre demência para os clínicos gerais.

Keywords:

Aged - General Practitioners - Knowledge - Attitudes - Dementia

Palavras-chave:

Idoso - Clínicos Gerais - Conhecimento - Atitude - Demência

Authors’ contribution:

VFSM: designed the study, collected and analyzed data and wrote the manuscript. PJFVB: revised the study. AFJ: designed the study, analyzed data and wrote the paper.




Publication History

Received: 18 February 2020

Accepted: 08 June 2020

Article published online:
04 July 2023

© 2021. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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