Aims: Ageing is the strongest risk factor for dementia, and with New Zealand’s ageing population, dementia cases are projected to triple in 30 years. However, true prevalence remains unknown, as estimates rely on overseas data. The IDEA programme aims to determine dementia prevalence in Pākehā, Chinese, and Indian populations, enabling equity analyses with Māori and Pacific groups. This fundamental data will inform culturally appropriate dementia services to address ethnic disparities in care.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional screen-interview survey of individuals aged ≥65.
This study employs a door-knocking approach in selected urban and rural meshblocks in Auckland and Christchurch. Trained multiethnic interviewers who are proficient in the relevant languages perform door-step cognitive screenings and recruit a random sample for comprehensive interviews using the 10/66 dementia protocol. With a margin of error of 3%, and a confidence level of 5%, a total of 485 European, 410 Chinese and 425 Indian/Fijian-Indian people will be interviewed.
Results: In the first 9 months, 18,220 doors were knocked, 2650 participants were screened, and 584 were interviewed, with 30% of selected participants declining interviews and 35% refusing door-step screenings. The presentation will discuss the successes and challenges experienced by the door-knocking team, alongside preliminary insights into dementia prevalence across ethnic groups.
Conclusions: The IDEA programme represents a critical step toward understanding dementia prevalence in NZ’s diverse populations. By providing accurate, population-specific data, this study will inform equitable and culturally appropriate health service planning and contribute to improved outcomes for people with dementia in NZ.