title: Public knowledge about dementia in Germany--results of a population survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The following research questions are addressed: (1) What does the German public know about dementia? (2) Are social factors, care experience and contact with dementia patients associated with knowledge about dementia? (3) Is knowledge associated with attitudes/beliefs about dementia?
  
  
  METHODS
  Analyses are based on a German mail survey conducted in 2012. Sample consists of persons aged 18-79 years. 1795 persons filled out the questionnaire (response rate 78 %). Respondents were asked about their knowledge of and attitudes about dementia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge about cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and life impact of dementia is characterized by a relatively high uncertainty. People with care experiences and people from higher status groups know more about dementia. People with more knowledge are less likely to believe that dementia patients have a high quality of life, but tend to be less skeptical about early detection of dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To increase knowledge, reduce uncertainty and modify attitudes towards dementia and those who are afflicted, educational programs and contact-based approaches should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. d.luedecke@uke.de.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lüdecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: von dem Knesebeck
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kofahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003625:Data Collection; D003704:Dementia; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes; Beliefs; Dementia; Germany; Knowledge; Survey