Awareness rate of cognitive impairment and memory clinic needs in middle-aged and elderly residents in Shanghai suburbs / 上海预防医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the awareness rate of cognitive impairment and the needs for memory clinic in middle-aged and elderly residents in Shanghai suburb area. Methods A convenient sampling method and questionnaire survey were used in 289 outpatients in the No.1 Community Health Service Station of Dachang Community Health Service Center, Baoshan District in March 2019. Results Residents generally had less knowledge about their cognitive impairment, only 7.61% of residents were familiar with the disease.These residents who took part in the questionnaire survey showed higher interest about memory problems occurring in themselves and/or their relatives, 78.55% of them agreed that the memory test should be added in the annual physical examination for elders, and 91.35% thought that further mental examination should be taken if they had memory problems.Contrary to the large demands for memory clinic(65.05%), there was a lower awareness rate (19.03%) for medical institutions which had memory clinic. Conclusion The health promotion work related to cognitive impairment should be comprehensively carried out, and the publicity channels about memory clinic in local area or district should be increased so that residents in need can see a doctor in time.