Analysis on the Perceptions Toward Mild Cognitive Impairment and Medical Willingness among Population Aged over 55 Years in Shanghai Based on a Proactive Health Perspective

Abstract

Background Proactive health is an important measure to implement the Healthy China strategy. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an important breakthrough point for early detection and intervention of cognitive impairment disorders and it is also a key link in the realization of brain health. Objective To activate the initial health intervention among community population and fully realize the construction of a healthy China by understanding the perceptions and medical willingness among community populations aged over 55 years in Shanghai. Methods From October to December 2021, one district of Shanghai's urban and suburban areas was randomly selected (Yangpu District for the urban area and Jiading District for the suburban area), and 1-2 community health service centers were randomly selected from each district (Daqiao Community Health Service Center and Dinghai Community Health Service Center for Yangpu District, and Jiading Town Community Health Service Center for Jiading District). An on-site face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among the residents waiting for outpatient consultation at the community health service centers in accordance with the inclusion criteria. The content of community populations' perceptions questionnaire included: (1) general demographic characteristics; (2) the level of MCI disease awareness among the community population; (3) the medical willingness of the community population. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors influencing the medical willingness of the community population. Results A total of 970 questionnaires were distributed and 951 valid questionnaires were recovered, with a valid recovery rate of 98.04%. (1) The total score of the community populations' perceptions questionnaire for MCI was (14.55±5.24), 51.3% (488/951) of the community populations were aware of "mild cognitive impairment", mainly through the media (61.7%, 301/488) ; 59.9% (570/951) of the populations believede that "mild cognitive impairment occurs in old age"; 14.1% (134/951) of the population had participated in relevant screening activities; 6.2% (59/951) had consulted a doctor for memory impairment or suspected cognitive impairment. (2) Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that family history of cognitive impairment, knowledge and understanding of MCI as well as personal experience were all influencing factors of community populations' medical willingness for MCI. Conclusion Community population aged over 55 years have poor MCI disease perceptions and poor medical willingness. The community populations with poor knowledge, biased understanding of MCI and lack of relevant practical experience had poor medical willingness. It is suggested that multi-angle publicity should be carried out to improve the perceptions of MCI disease in the community and provide comprehensive support, to improve the accessibility of proactive health, and explore effective ways to promote proactive health.

Keywords

• cognition disorders|proactive health|healthy china|mild cognitive impairment|perceptions|medical willingness|root cause analysis