Promoting Timely Diagnosis of Dementia
The Promoting Timely Diagnosis of Dementia project commenced 1 October 2022, and is funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.
The project is led by the University of Sydney’s Professor Lee-Fay Low who is working with several of the co-designers and researchers from the Forward with Dementia team, as well as new collaborators.
The project aims to increase public knowledge about the benefits of dementia diagnosis and treatments and services, decrease stigma, and increase motivations and triggers to get help. The project also aims to increase skills in dementia detection and management in primary care.
The team comprises researchers from six Australian universities who will work alongside people living with dementia, carers, general practitioners, practice nurses and practice managers as well as primary healthcare networks.
The interventions will be tested in in Western Sydney, Western Victoria and Adelaide. The team will compare the public health campaign and a primary care practice change program implemented individually or jointly.
Participate in research for your chance to win a voucher
Researchers from the new Timely Diagnosis Research Project need to speak to people from Adelaide and Greater Sydney:
- who are worried that they, or someone they care for, may be getting dementia; OR
- who have recently been diagnosed with dementia, or care for someone recently diagnosed.
And are willing to take part in university research (interview or focus group) about the benefits and barriers to seeking a dementia diagnosis.
Participate online or face-to-face (Adelaide or Sydney-based university campuses).
For more information, contact Annica Barcenilla-Wong phone 02 9036 4024 or email: annica.barcenilla@sydney.edu.au or click the “Participate in Research” button below.
Living with Uncertainty
What information do people with mild cognitive impairment and families need and want after diagnosis?
This project, developed by Research Fellow Dr Meredith Gresham from UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) aims to understand what information, strategies and supports will improve the diagnostic and post-diagnostic experience of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their main supporters, as foundational research for a national dissemination project.
The project recently received an Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) Hal Kendig Research Development Grant.
The research involves interviews with people diagnosed with MCI, their main support person, and the diagnosing doctor. Through a triadic case study approach, Dr Gresham will:
- Explore what information about MCI is wanted and needed from the perspectives of people with MCI, their supporters, and health care professionals.
- Understand appropriate and accessible formats for providing information, and
- Probe the most appropriate ways in which information can be delivered for these three groups.
For more information about the research, read the recent UNSW article about the project and/or contact Dr Meredith Gresham via email: m.gresham@unsw.edu.au
Dr Gresham was Study Coordinator of the CHeBA-led research consortium COGNISANCE (Co-Designing Diagnosis And Post Diagnostic Care) and the Forward with Dementia project. Find out more about the Australian Forward with Dementia Team.
Forward with Dementia continues
Forward with Dementia, and this website, www.forwardwithdementia.au, developed through the COGNSIANCE project, will continue to provide information, regular news posts and newsletters.
We’ve received positive feedback from people living with dementia, carers, families and health professionals that the project has addressed a gap in information and advice needed following a dementia diagnosis.
