title: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Clinical Practices for Patients With Dementia Among Mental Health Providers in China: City and Town Differences.
abstract: Mental health providers are the major resource families rely on when experiencing the effects of dementia. However, mental health resources and manpower are inadequate and unevenly distributed between cities and towns in China. This study was conducted to examine similarities and differences in knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices concerning dementia and working with family caregivers from mental health providers' perspectives in city versus town settings. Data were collected during focus group discussions with 40 mental health providers in the Xicheng (city) and Daxing (town) districts in Beijing, China in 2011. Regional disparities between providers' knowledge of early diagnosis of dementia and related counseling skills were identified. Regional similarities included training needs, dementia-related stigma, and low awareness of dementia among family caregivers. Culturally sensitive education specific to dementia for mental health providers and a specialized dementia care model for people with dementia and their family caregivers are urgently needed. Implications for geriatric practitioners and educators are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California , USA.
authors.forename: Hsin-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Mental Health , Peking University , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Zhaorui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: c School of Social Work , University of Texas at Arlington , Arlington , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Mental Health , Peking University , Beijing , China.
authors.forename: Yueqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Work , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California , USA.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D065246:Culturally Competent Care / Q000379:methods; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000193:education*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013663:Teaching
keywords: China; city/town; dementia; dementia-related stigma; mental health provider