Bidang Kajian : Warga Emas
Pelajar/Pengkaji Oleh: Nurinaba Bt Yusof
Alamat Emel: nurinabayusof@gmail.com
Tarikh: 25/05/2026
Abstrak Kajian
By 2030, the global population aged 60 or older is expected to increase to 1.4 billion from 1 billion in 2020. By 2050, this demographic is projected to double to 2.1 billion, with the number of individuals aged 80 and older tripling to 426 million (WHO, 2022). The elderly population in Malaysia has grown significantly, with approximately 3.7 million individuals (11.1% of the population) in 2020, projected to reach 5.8 million (15.3%) by 2030 and 8.2 million (20%) by 2040 (Abdullah et al., 2024). This study aims to investigate the knowledge and attitudes toward dementia among nonprofessional workers in elderly care centres in Kelantan and to examine the relationship between their knowledge and attitudes. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 45 non-professional workers from selected elderly care centres in Kelantan. Data were collected using the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool Version 2 (DKAT2) and the Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS), along with demographic information. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Respondents (N = 45) demonstrated a relatively good level of knowledge (M = 10.58, SD = 2.40) and moderately positive attitudes (M = 89.62, SD = 12.46) toward dementia. A weak positive but non-significant correlation was found between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.164, p = 0.282). In conclusion, while nonprofessional caregivers demonstrated encouraging levels of knowledge and positive attitudes, the lack of correlation suggests that these elements may develop independently. This highlights the need for targeted training that not only focus on knowledge but also reinforces positive caregiving attitudes. The findings underscore the importance of structured education and practical exposure in enhancing dementia care readiness among non-professional caregivers in Malaysia.
Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Dementia, Non-profesional worker, Elderly care centres