Prevalence of dementia diagnosis in Blackburn with Darwen
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Facing the Dementia Challenge: A mixed methods study exploring access to a dementia diagnosis and support within ethnically diverse communities.
IRAS ID
167661
Contact name
Maaria Atcha
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
31135148, ESRC funded PhD studentship
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
The aim of the research is to identify the social and cultural issues that may influence personal decisions to seek help for dementia diagnosis and supportive services in the South Asian community of the United Kingdom.
A growing body of literature suggests that ethnic minority populations continue to be underrepresented in both dementia research and service agendas. Recent literature has claimed that South Asians (SA) are less likely to access specialist services, while dementia diagnoses and access to these services in this community remain limited despite the fact that South Asian’s are the largest ethnic minority group in the UK. Blackburn with Darwen (BwD) Public Health has become increasingly aware that there is a significant difference between the reported numbers of people with dementia diagnosis compared to those numbers presented in prima facie evidence, particularly in the South Asian population.
There is a need to explore if there is a difference in dementia diagnosis and access to services in the South Asian population. If such a difference exists, research can help in gaining an understanding of the expectations and experiences of this group with the services. This quantitative study will help determine the number of people with dementia diagnosis in the South Asian community compared to other ethnic groups, by age, sex and a geographical locator variable on all cases of dementia diagnosed in people residents in Blackburn with Darwen local authority area for October 2013 to October 2014. This will involve using data from Lancashire Care Foundation Trust, data on the number of people from Blackburn with Darwen with dementia diagnosis by age, sex and ethnicity.
This research will aid in the planning and development of services that encourage greater equality of access to care and improve care outcomes for the South Asian community in BwD. The strategies adopted so far to improve early diagnosis and quality of life for people with dementia have taken little account of the factors influencing decisions in diagnosis, treatment and care (Cooper, 2002).
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
15/WA/0020
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion