Threat Perception on Dementia Symptoms among the Young Old, Khuandon Sub district, Khuandon District, Satun Province

Abstract

  Thailand has an average of 2-10 % of dementia symptoms among older adults. From screening dementia among older adults in Khuandon sub-district, it revealed 13.9 % of older adults with dementia. This descriptive research aimed to determine threat perception on dementia symptoms (perceived susceptibility/perceived severity) among 128 young old, Khuandon sub-district, Khuandon district, Satun province. Sample were recruited using stratified random sampling method. Data were collected through questionnaire of threat perception on dementia symptoms in older adults which had Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) between .67 and 1.00. Pilot study was used with 30 young old yielding Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.78. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and the independent t-test.

  Research results revealed that threat perception on dementia symptoms among young old was mostly at a high level (M = 3.18, SD = 0.21). Difference in gender and non-communicable diseases represented statically significant difference in threat perception on dementia symptoms (p =.05) and elderly females with non-communicable diseases were perceived more than male elderly and without chronic diseases.

  Recommendation: promotion of threat perception on dementia symptoms should be focused on perceived susceptibility/perceived severity in older adults with all genders  as well as those without comorbidities and should study in pre-older groups for becoming aging  society.