DESARROLLO DE UN CUESTIONARIO PARA LA EVALUACIÓN DEL AUTOESTIGMA EN PERSONAS CON DEMENCIA TIPO ALZHEIMER EN ETAPA INICIAL

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. In health care, self-stigma is a type of stigma characterized by patients’ internalization of negative perceptions of their condition, affecting their well-being and restricting their search for care. Dementia is a stigmatized condition. Self-stigma in dementia has received limited attention and the available self-stigma assessment scales don’t consider the patient’s condition. OBJECTIVE. To develop a questionnaire for the assessment of self-stigma in people with the diagnosis of early-stage dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. METHODS. Mixed development study with two phases. To describe manifestations of self-stigma, a qualitative study was first conducted through interviews with eleven individuals who received the diagnosis of early-stage dementia of the Alzheimer type. Using this information, along with conceptual abstraction and operationalization, theoretical dimensions and items were later developed. Apparent and content validity of dimensions and items were examined through consultation with experts (n:3) and people with early-stage dementia (n:3). Suggestions on acceptability and utility were also collected. RESULTS. A first version of the questionnaire was developed to evaluate cognitive and behavioral-affective manifestations of self-stigma in dementia. It was composed of four dimensions and 22 items measured through a four-level Likert scale. CONCLUSION. The questionnaire and suggestions for use are presented. Further studies should examine construct validity through psychometric evaluation. A questionnaire to evaluate self-stigma contributes to identifying the needs of people with dementia and the development of comprehensive care plans.