The Effect of Health Belief Model-Based Education on Knowledge and Behavioral Changes Regarding Dementia in Older Adults

Hasan Kalyoncu University

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Dementia Education; Volunteering to Participate in the Study; Aged 60 Years or Older; Prevention Intervention

Treatments: Behavioral: Session 2: Increasing the Perception of Seriousness/Importance; Behavioral: Session 5: Raising Awareness and Enhancing Self-Efficacy of Implementers; Behavioral: Session 4: Addressing the Perception of Barriers; Behavioral: 1. Introduction Session: Increasing Perceived Sensitivity; Behavioral: Session 3: Increasing the Perception of Benefit

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07505693

HASANKU- HEM- ZB- 01

Details and patient eligibility

About

While age is one of the strongest known risk factors for the onset of dementia, dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Several modifiable risk factors, such as physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, depression, and social isolation, increase the risk of developing dementia (WHO, 2025). Positive health beliefs and attitudes toward preventing or reducing the risk of dementia can encourage individuals to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors (Vrijsen et al., 2021). Many studies in the literature have investigated the effects of lifestyle interventions on dementia prevention and reported that adhering to a healthy lifestyle can improve cognitive function and reduce or delay the risk of dementia (An et al., 2025; Siette 2023; Lee et al., 2022). The Health Belief Model argues that individuals' health behaviors are influenced by their beliefs, values, and attitudes (Gözüm & Çapık, 2014). Considering individuals' beliefs and attitudes towards health, the education and treatment offered can be tailored to the individual and their benefit can be ensured (Gözüm & Çapık, 2014; Li et al., 2022). Within the framework of the Health Belief Model, it has been stated that reducing the perceived barriers in individuals in the intervention process aimed at preventing dementia is a fundamental factor in strengthening their beliefs about dementia prevention and encouraging the development of healthy behavioral habits (Li et al., 2022). Therefore, it is thought that Health Belief Model-based education applied to the elderly may have an effect on individuals' level of knowledge about dementia and their motivation to change behaviors to reduce the risk of dementia.

Full description

While age is one of the strongest known risk factors for the onset of dementia, dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Several modifiable risk factors, such as physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, depression, and social isolation, increase the risk of developing dementia (WHO, 2025). Positive health beliefs and attitudes toward preventing or reducing the risk of dementia can encourage individuals to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors (Vrijsen et al., 2021). Many studies in the literature have investigated the effects of lifestyle interventions on dementia prevention and have reported that adhering to a healthy lifestyle can improve cognitive function and reduce or delay the risk of dementia (An et al., 2025; Siette 2023; Lee et al., 2022). One of the models underlying research on the prevention or reduction of symptoms of dementia is the Health Belief Model (Lee et al., 2022). The Health Belief Model provides an effective guide in evaluating factors affecting health-protective and health-promoting behaviors, as well as individuals' adherence to treatment (Gözüm & Çapık, 2014). However, a review of the literature indicates that intervention and education studies based on the Health Belief Model for dementia prevention need to be increased (Lee et al., 2022; An et al., 2025). Therefore, it is thought that Health Belief Model-based education applied to the elderly may have an effect on individuals' knowledge level regarding dementia and their motivation to change behaviors to reduce the risk of dementia.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals who are:
• 60 years of age and older,
• Registered with the Active Living Center and actively using its services,
• Not diagnosed with dementia,
• Not visually and/or hearing impaired,
• Possessing reading comprehension skills,
• Possessing Turkish speaking and comprehension skills,
• Not having a psychiatric diagnosis,
• Not taking psychiatric medication,
• Not having previously participated in a dementia-related training program, and who volunteer to participate in the study will be included.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who do not meet any of the research inclusion criteria,
• Individuals who have not attended at least two sessions of the Training Program,
• Individuals who refuse to participate in/wish to withdraw from the Training Program will be excluded from the research by the researcher.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention Group

Experimental group

Description:

* 30 individuals aged 60 and over, * Registered with and actively using the services of the Active Living Center, * Not diagnosed with dementia, * Not having visual and/or hearing impairments, * Having reading comprehension skills, * Having Turkish speaking and comprehension skills, * Not having a psychiatric diagnosis, * Not using psychiatric medication, * Not having previously participated in a dementia-related training program, will be included in the study in 3 groups of 10 people each. The training program will begin with an introductory session and the administration of pre-tests, and will be completed in 7 sessions over 4 weeks, two days a week. Each session in the training program will last approximately 45-50 minutes. After the last session, the elderly will be given an educational booklet on dementia prevention. The post-test will be administered the following week after the educational booklet is given to the patients.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Session 3: Increasing the Perception of Benefit

Behavioral: 1. Introduction Session: Increasing Perceived Sensitivity

Behavioral: Session 5: Raising Awareness and Enhancing Self-Efficacy of Implementers

Behavioral: Session 4: Addressing the Perception of Barriers

Behavioral: Session 2: Increasing the Perception of Seriousness/Importance

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

* 30 individuals aged 60 and over, * Registered with and actively using the services of the Active Life Center, * Not diagnosed with dementia, * Not having visual and/or hearing impairments, * Having reading comprehension skills, * Having Turkish speaking and comprehension skills, * Not having a psychiatric diagnosis, * Not using psychiatric medication, * Not having previously participated in a dementia-related training program, After a pre-test and a post-test session without intervention, the elderly in the control group will be given a single-session training program and a training booklet.