To News Editor
For immediate release
12 October 2010
JCCPA Survey Findings on
“Public Attitude toward Dementia and its Chinese Translation in Hong Kong”
In Hong Kong, a common Chinese term for dementia is “chi-dai-zheng”, which
literally means “idiotic, dull-witted disease”. In an attempt to understand the public
view towards the Chinese term for dementia in Hong Kong, Jockey Club Centre for
Positive Ageing (JCCPA) has commissioned the Asia Pacific Research Centre of the
Chinese University of Hong Kong to conduct a phone survey in March 2010. A total
of 1,001 Hong Kong residents aged over 18 were interviewed by phone. Phone
numbers were randomly selected from the local telephone directory, with the last two
digits of the number randomized.
The survey findings are reported at JCCPA today on October 12. Although 97% of the
people surveyed had heard of the Chinese term for dementia, the majority (86%)
reported having an average level of understanding or even completely not
knowledgeable about the disease. In addition, 54% mistakenly thought that dementia
patients behaved exactly as the Chinese term described, i.e. being idiotic and
dull-witted. 38% wrongly believed that dementia affected the elderly only. Also, 61%
thought that the patient would rapidly lose their memories (see Table 1). Director of
JCCPA Professor Timothy Kwok, who is also the Professor of the Department of
Medicine & Therapeutics, School of Public Health and Primary Care of the Chinese
University of Hong Kong, says the results indicates that the public have poor
knowledge about dementia. Indeed, the Chinese term of dementia is only partially
correct. It just describes the debilitating symptoms in late stage, e.g. lack of response
and insight, confusion. But the term does not capture the characteristics in the early
and moderate stages, i.e. being forgetful, which has nothing to do with “idiotic and
dull-witted”. Meanwhile, 50% agreed that the Chinese term of dementia would lead
to discrimination and stigmatization. Due to the negative connotations invoked by the
Chinese translation, patients with early symptoms may become reluctant to seek for
help, thus increasing the difficulty of early diagnosis and treatment.
In the second part of the phone interview, attitude change towards dementia was noted,
before and after reading a brief yet accurate overview of dementia to the respondents.
In particular, the percentage of respondents who agreed that the Chinese term should
be changed soared from 33% to 50% (see Table 2). This result reflects that public
view can be transformed, by only a very short explanation of the disease. Therefore,
Prof. Kwok recommends to strengthening public education in this area, with hopes to
giving a chance to everyone to learn dementia more correctly.
Since the Chinese name of dementia is inappropriate, Prof. Kwok thinks there is a
need to give it a new name. As such, JCCPA has launched the dementia renaming
competition in April, in order to come up with a new Chinese name that is bias-free.
The objective is to arouse public awareness about the disease, and to eradicate the
social stigma attached. The final shortlisted name will be used in more than 18
government departments, medical units, charity organizations, and local NGOs. It will
also become the official Chinese name for dementia in Hong Kong in the future.
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Attachment
Table 1: Preconceptions about dementia
N
%
Dementia patients would behave exactly according to the Chinese
term for dementia, i.e. being idiotic and dull-witted
537
54
Patient would rapidly lose their memories
Dementia affects the elderly only
Dementia patient exhibits symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease
Patient would display symptoms of mental illnesses
None of the above preconceptions
No opinion
608
381
364
172
64
17
61
38
36
17
6
2
* Percentages are based on the total number of cases (Total N=1,001). The total percentage is larger
than 100% because the respondents were free to having more than one impression.
Table 2: Attitude changes after being presented a brief overview of dementia
Before
(%)
After
(%)
Changes
(%)
Appropriateness /
inappropriateness of the term
Appropriate
46
35
-11
Inappropriate
No opinion
35
19
50
15
15
-4
Whether to change the Chinese
term for dementia
Change
33
50
17
No change
No opinion
55
11
42
8
-13
-2
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About JCCPA
JCCPA is devoted to develop integrated dementia care services in Hong Kong. It offers
one-stop services including day care program, respite care, caregiving training and
professional consultation since 2000. The goal is to relieve caregiving stress of family
members, and to provide users with dementia with suitable psychosocial activities, hence
delaying the rate of cognitive deterioration. For details, please visit www.jccpa.org.hk .
About dementia
Dementia is a neuro-degenerative disease related to abnormal cognitive impairment in brain.
Patients with dementia would gradually lose memory and other cognitive functions e.g.
attentions, language, learning, reasoning and decision making. To date, it is estimated that
more than 70,000 people are with dementia in Hong Kong. Although its incidence is related to
age, people under 65 also have the chance of being afflicted. As the prevalence of dementia
increases with age as well, more and more people living with dementia will be expected.
Supporting Organizations of Renaming Competition:
Department of Health
衞生署
Hospital Authority
醫管局
Elderly Commission
安老事務委員會
Equal Opportunities Commission
平等機會委員會
Hong Kong Housing Society
香港房屋協會
CUHK Faculty of Medicine
香港中文大學醫學系
CUHK Faculty of Social Work
香港中文大學社會工作系
HKU Sau Po Centre on Ageing
香港大學秀圃老年研究中心
HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
香港大學李嘉誠醫學院
Hong Kong Shue Yan University Dept of Social Work
香港樹仁大學社會工作系
Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service of Hong Kong
基督教香港信義會社會服務部
Hong Kong Association of Gerontology
香港老年學會
Hong Kong Council Social Service
香港社會服務聯會
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council
香港聖公會福利協會
Senior Citizen Home Safety Association
長者安居服務協會
St James’ Settlement Kin Chi Dementia Care Support
聖雅各福群會健智支援服務中心
The Hong Kong Society For Rehabilitation
香港復康會
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
東華三院
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Released by: Seedland International Limited
On behalf of Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing
Ms Eunice HUI, Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing (Tel: 2636-6323)
Media enquiries: Miss Jackie Liu (Tel: 9197-6791 / 3583-3100; Email: info@seedland.hk)
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