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How Carers of People with Dementia Use the Internet and Search Online for Dementia-Specific Information: a National Survey Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
During last decade, research focus on the web-based interventions delivered to support carers of people with dementia. Even though, few information is available in relation to internet use among carers and carers of people with dementia.
Objective:
The aim of the study is to report on the dementia-related internet use and factors that may be associated with the use among Greek carers of people with dementia.
Methods:
The study used data obtained from the Carers dementia survey of Association of Alzheimer’s Disease during May and July 2017. The total sample of 580 carers of people with dementia participated in the survey administered either online or face to face.
Results:
The majority of the carers reported that they use the internet in last 3 months and they have used it to find information about dementia (84%, n=485). Almost half of the total sample (47.5% n=276) reported that has received dementia services online. After conducting bivariate analysis, internet use by carers within last 3 months was associated with variables as age, education, being or not in paid employment, carers relationship, caring period and self-reported impact on health. The age of the participants, the years of care, the employment status and the self-reported impact on physical and psychological health are associated with the online dementia information seeking.Factors such as education, self-reported social and financial life were not found to be associated with online search of dementia information.
Conclusions:
Carers of people with dementia in Greece are important agents of the national health system. The existing short and long-term respite care services are limited if not existent. Nowadays, carers receive mostly support and education as part of the memory clinics, municipality consultation centers and memory centers that usually are based in central cities in Greece. Even if there is a movement regarding the dementia awareness in Greece, there is still space to integrate the role of technology in the support and education of carers. Development of training programmes for enhancing ehealth literacy skills as well as web-based services provision could support the Greek carers in their everyday caring tasks.
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