Kids4Dementia is the name of a program that aims to educate children about dementia. But how effective was early education in improving students' attitudes toward people with dementia? How well could the program be implemented in schools? Australian researchers investigated this.
More than 75 percent of people with dementia experience stigmatization. The consequences are severe. Stigmatization contributes to social isolation and delays the search for diagnosis and help, the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded as early as 2012. Young people represent an important target group for raising societal awareness of dementia and dismantling stereotypes. Education about dementia in schools can inform all children, regardless of their experience with people with dementia, the study states.
Animations, videos, and mind games
Kids4Dementia is a multimedia dementia awareness program developed by Australian researchers for 9- to 12-year-olds. No prior knowledge was necessary for teachers. The program included a website with seven modules that illustrated different aspects of dementia using animations and videos and „told stories.“ The main characters were a 10-year-old boy, his 12-year-old sister, and their grandfather, who behaved a little differently than usual. Built-in brain games that the students enjoyed were also popular.
203 students participated in the program, 67 of whom were in the control group. Data on the children's attitudes towards people with dementia were collected both before and after the educational program using the „Kids Insight into Dementia Survey (KIDS)“ questionnaire.
More empathy and compassion
Ob Kids4Dementia The researchers answered a clear „Yes“ when asked if children's attitudes towards people with dementia had improved. The improvement in attitudes was particularly pronounced in students who had never heard of dementia before, according to the study. „The program was acceptable and engaging for teachers and students“ and also confirmed an improvement in empathy. A boy commented on future contact with people with dementia: „I wouldn't have known what to do, I probably would have gotten scared... now I would help them and [...] treat them like a normal person.“ Increased empathy for people with dementia and their relatives was also observed.
Knowledge accumulation and recommendation
The program also expanded the students„ knowledge. The young people learned that dementia is “not contagious„ and that people between the ages of 30 and 40 can also develop dementia. The teachers also gave the program a good rating. They wanted to recommend it to other teachers. The researchers were therefore able to draw a positive conclusion: "The results provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of Kids4Dementia as an appealing, stakeholder-driven, and curriculum-aligned dementia awareness program.“
Tip for practice: The study shows that education and knowledge transfer about dementia, and thus the reduction of stigma, cannot begin early enough. Children are also very receptive to the topic of dementia from an early age. One way to impart knowledge about dementia, including for children, is our digiDEM Bavaria Dementia Knowledge Test.
Here's the study:
The Kids4Dementia education program is effective in improving children's attitudes toward dementia.
Test your dementia knowledge now. Here's the digiDEM Bavaria dementia knowledge test.
