title: The effects of exposure to scenarios about dementia on stigma and attitudes toward dementia care in a Chinese community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated whether brief exposure to information has any effect on stigmatizing attitudes towards older people with dementia, and how people responded to this medical diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  494 adults were randomly assigned to three groups differentiated by experimental conditions. Group A (control) responded to questions on stigma directly. Group B (symptom) read two vignettes that described the symptoms of two fictitious individuals with dementia, before answering questions on stigma. Group C (label) read the same vignettes which ended with a statement that the person was recently diagnosed with dementia by a physician. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, together with other pre-existing between-subjects factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brief exposure to information about dementia led to a statistically significant reduction in stigma (Groups B, C < A), regardless of whether the diagnostic label of "dementia" was included or not. Moreover, lower stigma was reported by persons who knew a relative or friend with dementia, who were younger and more educated, and who thought dementia was treatable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As stigmatizing attitudes toward dementia are still a hindrance to early help-seeking in Asian communities, the findings suggest that community education may play a useful role in alleviating this barrier to early detection and intervention.
authors: Department of Psychological Studies, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong. takcheng@ied.edu.hk
authors: Sheung-Tak
authors: ST
authors: Cheng
authors: Linda C W
authors: LC
authors: Lam
authors: Liliane C K
authors: LC
authors: Chan
authors: Alexander C B
authors: AC
authors: Law
authors: Ada W T
authors: AW
authors: Fung
authors: Wai-chi
authors: WC
authors: Chan
authors: Cindy W C
authors: CW
authors: Tam
authors: Wai-man
authors: WM
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013240:Stereotyping