Effects and influencing factors of Internet-based training on primary prevention of dementia among primary health care workers

Background: Existing evidence-based guidelines and summaries on dementia prevention are not effectively disseminated and used by primary health care workers in developing countries. As such, the lack of knowledge and skills is a major obstacle to dementia prevention and has posed a need for relevant training. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of an Internet-based dementia-related training program with the aim to improve the competence of primary health care workers to early detection of symptoms of memory disorder and dementia, and to provide effective guidance and consultation for residents. Design: A survey with 12 weeks follow-up. Settings: An Internet-based training program was conducted in four primary healthcare institutions in China between April and September 2020. Participants: Primary health care workers, including doctors and nurses. Methods: A localized Internet-based training program on primary prevention of dementia for primary health care workers was built, based on existing guidelines. Self-made measures were used to evaluate the knowledge, selfefficacy, and behavioral intentions of primary health care workers. Data were collected before the training (T0), after the training (T1), and Week 12 after the training (T2). Differences between the different time points were tested using a generalized estimation equation. Results: There were 268 study participants, 120 of whom completed the training and the questionnaire three times consecutively. At T1 and T2, the knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavioral intention scores were higher than those at T0 (all B > 0, all p < 0.05. The knowledge scores were influenced by age, years of work, and occupation of participants. The self-efficacy and behavioral intention scores were influenced by age, dementia training history, and reception of complaints of memory loss. Eighty percent of the participants were satisfied with the training. Conclusions: This study confirmed that Internet-based training on the primary prevention of dementia is highly accepted and improves the knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavioral intention of primary health care workers.