BACKGROUND One of the major challenges worldwide is the stigma associated with dementia. There is limited dementia awareness within Malaysian communities, including levels of confusion regarding the differences between dementia and the usual ageing progress, which can lead to delays in support seeking. The need for additional training and education for healthcare professionals has been highlighted. The present study aimed to evaluate the benefits of a one-hour dementia education session (Dementia Detectives workshop) for pharmacy and medicine undergraduate students at a Malaysian university. METHODS Participants attended the workshop and completed pre- (Time 1) and post-workshop (Time 2) questionnaires consisting of validated measures exploring attitudes towards dementia and older people more broadly. RESULTS A total of 97 students were recruited. Attitudes towards people with dementia showed significant positive changes between Time 1 and Time 2, whereas no differences were found for attitudes towards older people. CONCLUSIONS As medical and pharmacy students develop theoretical knowledge, practical skills and professional attitudes during their undergraduate studies, it is important for students to also learn about the humanistic side of diseases and conditions through workshops such as the one presented here. Further research should now be conducted to consider how Dementia Detectives can be delivered to non-healthcare students and what the barriers and facilitators to wider delivery are.

中文翻译：

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马来西亚大学生对痴呆症的认知和态度。

背景技术全世界范围内的主要挑战之一是与痴呆症相关的耻辱感。马来西亚社区对痴呆症的认识有限，包括对痴呆症与通常的衰老过程之间差异的困惑程度，这可能导致寻求支持的延误。强调了对医疗保健专业人员进行额外培训和教育的需求。本研究旨在评估一小时的痴呆症教育课程（痴呆侦探讲习班）对马来西亚大学药房和医学专业本科生的好处。方法参与者参加了讲习班，并完成了前（时间1）和后车间（时间2）问卷，其中包括经验证的措施，这些措施从更广泛的角度探讨了对痴呆症和老年人的态度。结果总共招募了97名学生。对痴呆症患者的态度在时间1和时间2之间显示出显着的积极变化，而对老年人的态度没有发现差异。结论随着医学和药学专业学生在本科学习过程中发展出理论知识，实践技能和专业态度，对学生来说，通过研讨会（如此处介绍的研讨会）了解疾病和状况的人文方面也很重要。现在应该进行进一步的研究，以考虑如何将痴呆症侦探运送给非保健学生，以及阻碍更大范围运送的障碍和促进因素。而对老年人的态度没有差异。结论随着医学和药学专业学生在本科学习过程中发展出理论知识，实践技能和专业态度，对学生来说，通过研讨会（如此处介绍的研讨会）了解疾病和状况的人文方面也很重要。现在应该进行进一步的研究，以考虑如何将痴呆症侦探人员交付给非医疗专业的学生，​​以及阻碍更大范围交付的障碍和促进因素。而对老年人的态度没有差异。结论随着医学和药学专业学生在本科学习过程中发展出理论知识，实践技能和专业态度，对学生来说，通过研讨会（如此处介绍的研讨会）了解疾病和状况的人文方面也很重要。现在应该进行进一步的研究，以考虑如何将痴呆症侦探运送给非保健学生，以及阻碍更大范围运送的障碍和促进因素。重要的是，学生还要通过研讨会（如此处介绍的研讨会）了解疾病和状况的人文方面。现在应该进行进一步的研究，以考虑如何将痴呆症侦探运送给非保健学生，以及阻碍更大范围运送的障碍和促进因素。重要的是，学生还要通过研讨会（如此处介绍的研讨会）了解疾病和状况的人文方面。现在应该进行进一步的研究，以考虑如何将痴呆症侦探人员交付给非医疗专业的学生，​​以及阻碍更大范围交付的障碍和促进因素。