Questionnaire Survey on the Level of Awareness of the National Policies and Projects Concerning Dementia Measures among Chain Community Pharmacists / 社会薬学

ABSTRACT

To smoothly proceed with the national policies and projects concerning dementia measures, it is important that pharmacists who take care of patient in clinical practice sufficiently understand its contents. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey involving chain community pharmacists to investigate the level of awareness concerning these policies and projects. Subjects were 446 chain community pharmacists. The questionnaire consisted of 17 items (e.g. the level of awareness regarding the “Comprehensive Strategy to Accelerate Dementia Measures (New Orange Plan)”, “Dementia Supporters Caravan Program (Caravan Program)”, and “Dementia training certified pharmacist program (Certification program)”). The questionnaires were filled out anonymously. The levels of awareness concerning the “New Orange Plan” and “Caravan Program” were 34.7% and 48.9%, respectively. Sixty-one percent of subjects attended a “Dementia Supporter Training Lecture”, 30.4% of whom were wearing the “orange ring”. The levels of awareness and the hope of acquisition concerning the “Certification program” were 47.8% and 79.8%, respectively. To achieve the purpose of “contribution to early detection of dementia by pharmacist” of the “New Orange Plan”, it is necessary to conducting the workshop and to create an opportunity to come in contact with dementia patients. It is also important to recognize that it is necessary to enlighten the meaning of wearing an “orange ring” and to enlarge the circle of dementia supporters. In addition, it is thought that more dementia patients can be supported in the community by increasing the levels of awareness concerning the “Certification program” and giving appropriate advice and response.