INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of dementia is rising at an alarming rate on a global scale. It is presumed that this also applies to the Deaf community, despite the absence of diagnostic tools for this group. The lack of effective communication between Deaf individuals and the general public often results in a lack of awareness and understanding about dementia among the Deaf community. There is presently no validated instrument in sign language that assesses knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in caring for people with dementia.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to adapt and validate the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS), the Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS), and the Confidence in Dementia Scale (CODE) in German Sign Language.

METHODS

The DKAS-D, DAS-D, and CODE-D were adapted into German Sign Language (DGS) using a collaborative translation process involving Deaf and hearing bilingual signers.

A convenience sample of 205 individuals was recruited via an online platform.

All participants answered the DKAS-DGS and DAS-DGS, while a subsample answered additionally the CODE-DGS (n= 160).

The psychometric properties of the tools were validated through an assessment of their reliability (internal consistency, structural validity, known-group analysis) and an item analysis for the DKAS-DGS.

CONCLUSION

The three scales are valid tools that can be used to evaluate dementia awareness seminars for the Deaf community in Germany.