Keywords: dementia, attitude, empathy, family physician

Background:

Empathy and attitudes significantly influence care quality and outcomes for individuals with dementia (IWD). Family physicians (FPs) are pivotal in dementia management, yet research has largely focused on diagnosis and disease management. The literature offers limited data on FPs’ attitudes toward IWD and their empathy levels. This study contributes to the existing evidence in this area.

Research questions:

(1) to evaluate FPs’ attitudes toward IWD and their empathy levels, and (2) to investigate the relationship between empathy levels and attitudes toward IWD.

Method:

This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among FPs working in family health centers across Turkey. The minimum required sample size was 379. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS), and the Empathy Quotient (EQ). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and appropriate parametric or nonparametric tests.

Results:

A total of 412 FPs participated in the study. Mean DAS and EQ scores were 97.7 (95% CI: 96.1–99.3) and 50.5 (95% CI: 49.7–51.3), respectively. Participants with a higher percentage of older adults registered in their practice reported more positive attitudes toward IWD. DAS subscale analysis showed that exclusionary attitudes were less common among participants who were married, had children, and had an IWD among their first-degree relatives. Additionally, older age, longer work experience, and a higher number of registered IWD in the practice were associated with fewer exclusionary attitudes. A moderate positive correlation was observed between EQ and DAS scores (r = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.36–0.52). Empathy levels were positively correlated with supportive and accepting attitudes but not with exclusionary attitudes.

Conclusions:

Higher empathy levels are moderately associated with positive attitudes toward IWD among FPs. Results from standardized tools and a nationwide sample suggest implications for primary care training and indicate that empathy-focused approaches may enhance dementia care.

Points for discussion:

Are there any additional analyses you would recommend?

What strategies could support empathy development in family medicine practice?