title: Pathways to dementia diagnosis among South Asian Canadians.
abstract: Urban centers are increasingly ethnically diverse. However, some visible minorities are less likely than their majority counterparts to seek and receive services and treatment for dementia. This study explored experiences of South Asian Canadians, Canada's largest visible minority group, prior to dementia diagnosis. Six persons with dementia and eight of their family carers described their early perceptions of dementia-related changes, actions taken, including help seeking and diagnosis, and affective responses. Early signs were attributed to aging or personality. Even after cognitive enhancers were prescribed, some respondents continued to believe that the dementia symptoms were 'normal'. Family carers' affective responses may be related to their attributions. Before seeking medical attention, family carers modified physical or social environments because of symptoms. Help seeking was delayed up to four years, even with significant dementia symptoms. Recognition of a health problem was influenced by safety concerns, emergence of new symptoms following trauma, and treatment for other health problems. For some, relatives living outside the home or outside Canada were instrumental in recognizing a problem and convincing family carers and persons with dementia to seek medical attention. The pathway to diagnosis might be easier with outreach to help South Asian immigrants differentiate between normal aging and dementia. Symptom recognition by physicians treating other acute conditions was a portal to dementia services for others. Screening and referral in acute care could result in earlier diagnosis and treatment.
authors: Department of Nursing, Brock University, Canada.
authors: Lynn
authors: L
authors: McCleary
authors: Malini
authors: M
authors: Persaud
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Hum
authors: Nicholas J G
authors: NJ
authors: Pimlott
authors: Carole A
authors: CA
authors: Cohen
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Koehn
authors: Karen K
authors: KK
authors: Leung
authors: William B
authors: WB
authors: Dalziel
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Kozak
authors: Victor F
authors: VF
authors: Emerson
authors: James L
authors: JL
authors: Silvius
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Garcia
authors: Neil
authors: N
authors: Drummond
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Alzheimer disease; South Asian; caregivers; culture; dementia; ethnic groups; health services utilization