Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Dementia is one of the main triggers for care dependency among older adults who are predominantly cared for at home by relatives. To provide support in the care situation, health systems need valid information about the central needs of the affected people. The present study aimed to develop a research instrument to assess the most important needs of people with dementia and their family caregivers.
A focus group and an online survey with dementia experts were conducted to identify the most relevant support services and to develop the design of the instrument. The questionnaire was deployed in the digiDEM baseline data collection.
Participants were asked to evaluate the comprehensibility of the questionnaire. Readability was assessed using the Flesch reading ease score. Seventeen experts participated in the focus group and 59 people in the online survey.
The final questionnaire included 13 support services. One hundred eighty-three participants 50 people with dementia and family caregivers completed the questionnaire at baseline.
The mean comprehensibility score was 3. The Flesch reading ease score result was A research instrument could be developed, enabling people with dementia and family caregivers to directly express their individual needs for specific support services. Therefore, supply gaps can be identified and transformed into a specific health care plan. Keywords: Demand, dementia, digiDEM, health services research, needs, resource use. Dementia is one of the main triggers for care dependency among older adults [ 1 ].
