Deirdre McCaughey1, Gwen McGhan2, Kristin Flemons3, Whitney Hindmarch4, Kim Brundrit5. 1. Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. 2. Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. 3. Research Associate, Ward of the 21st Century (W21C) Research and Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. 4. Research Associate, Ward of the 21st Century (W21C) Research & Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. 5. Collective Impact Lead, Dementia Network Calgary, Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Enabling accurate, accessible public health messaging is a critical role of public health officials during a pandemic, but family caregivers of people living with dementia (PLWD) have rarely been specifically addressed in public health messaging. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine how family caregivers for people living with dementia access and evaluate public health messaging in Alberta. METHOD: An online survey was conducted with family caregivers for PLWD (n = 217). RESULTS: Most respondents rated public health messaging as good or excellent (63.9%), but specific information about how to access caregiving information (69.5%) and what to expect in the future (49.1%) was rated as less than good. Family caregivers also identified how to care for a PLWD during the pandemic (57.5%) as a key information need. Healthcare providers/workers were the least frequently used source of public health messaging. Almost all family caregivers (94.4%) rated their own COVID-19 knowledge as good or excellent. DISCUSSION: Tailored, context-driven public health messaging for family caregivers of PLWD is critically needed.
BACKGROUND: Enabling accurate, accessible public health messaging is a critical role of public health officials during a pandemic, but family caregivers of people living with dementia (PLWD) have rarely been specifically addressed in public health messaging. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine how family caregivers for people living with dementia access and evaluate public health messaging in Alberta. METHOD: An online survey was conducted with family caregivers for PLWD (n = 217). RESULTS: Most respondents rated public health messaging as good or excellent (63.9%), but specific information about how to access caregiving information (69.5%) and what to expect in the future (49.1%) was rated as less than good. Family caregivers also identified how to care for a PLWD during the pandemic (57.5%) as a key information need. Healthcare providers/workers were the least frequently used source of public health messaging. Almost all family caregivers (94.4%) rated their own COVID-19 knowledge as good or excellent. DISCUSSION: Tailored, context-driven public health messaging for family caregivers of PLWD is critically needed.
Authors: Darcy A Freedman; Kimberly D Bess; Holly A Tucker; David L Boyd; Arleen M Tuchman; Kenneth A Wallston Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2009-05 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Ricardo J Wray; Steven M Becker; Neil Henderson; Deborah Glik; Keri Jupka; Sarah Middleton; Carson Henderson; Allison Drury; Elizabeth W Mitchell Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2008-04-01 Impact factor: 9.308