Knowledge and attitudes towards dementia in a sample of medical residents from a university-hospital in São Paulo, Brazil

An estimated 61% of the 24.3 million people diagnosed with dementia worldwide live in underdeveloped countries, including Brazil, where a public healthcare system covers the majority of the population. This care is usually provided by General Practitioners (GP) and in Brazil many doctors recently graduated from medical school and residents of different medical specialties practice as GPs.Objective : The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and attitudes about dementia in a sample of Brazilian medical residents from a university-hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.Methods : A total of 152 Brazilian medical residents participated in the study. Participants answered a Knowledge Quiz (KQ) and Attitude Quiz (AQ) about dementia issues, transculturally adapted for use in Brazilian physicians. A descriptive analysis of the correct answers on knowledge and of the attitude aspects was performed.Results : The medical residents showed poor knowledge (<50%) about dementia prevalence and incidence and a good knowledge on disease management and diagnosis. Participants tended to be optimistic about caring for demented patients.Conclusion : In this study, it is likely that the physicians' good knowledge about dementia issues is the reason for their optimism dealing with demented patients. ; Estima-se que 61% dos 24,3 milhões de pessoas diagnosticadas com demência no mundo vivem em países subdesenvolvidos, incluindo o Brasil, onde o sistema público de saúde (SUS) abrange a maioria da população. Os atendimentos médicos no SUS são realizados, habitualmente, por médicos generalistas. No Brasil, muitos médicos, logo após a graduação e residentes de diferentes especialidades médicas trabalham como médicos generalistas.Objetivo : O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o conhecimento e as atitudes sobre demência em uma amostra de médicos residentes brasileiros de um hospital universitário em São Paulo, Brasil.Métodos : 152 médicos residentes participaram do estudo respondendo a um instrumento sobre conhecimentos e atitudes sobre ...