title: Making sense of dementia: understanding amongst indigenous Australians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dementia is a growing health and social concern for all Australians. Whilst the prevalence of dementia amongst Australia's indigenous people is unclear, there is some evidence that dementia rates are five times that of the general Australian population. To date no studies have examined dementia knowledge levels in indigenous communities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to explore indigenous Australians' understanding, knowledge and misconceptions of dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hundered and seventy-four indigenous adults participated in a cross-sectional survey using a modified version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test (ADK). The survey included demographic information, two open-ended questions and 20 multiple choice questions. Each ADK item was examined to identify responses that revealed commonly held correct beliefs, knowledge gaps and misconceptions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall level of understanding of dementia was poor. Younger participants were significantly more likely to have no knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease, whereas the other age groups were most likely to have at least some knowledge. It was also revealed that there are common misconceptions about Alzheimer's Disease held by both indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Culturally appropriate awareness campaigns and targeted educational interventions need to be implemented to improve the general level of understanding of dementia in indigenous communities.
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Population Studies Group, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Post Office Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland, Australia. gail.garvey@qimr.edu.au.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simmonds
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: Venessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Curnow
authors.forename: Susi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wise
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beattie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires