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An evaluation of a community dementia screening program in rural Kenya: DEM‐SKY
Nicolas Farina, Christine Wayua Musyimi, Kevin Onuonga, David Musyimi Ndetei. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-01-14
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The program demonstrated good acceptability, adoption, and fidelity and was effective in instigating behavior change. Individuals who screened positive for dementia were 28.7 times more likely to intend to speak to a doctor. Qualitative data showed that participants valued the program but indicated scope for improvement, particularly further down the diagnostic pathway. DEM-SKY was successful across several implementation metrics. Although the program demonstrates that community-based screening can be conducted effectively with minimal resources, future research needs to explore the long-term benefits of dementia screening in Kenya. HIGHLIGHTS: Community-based dementia screening is feasible in rural Africa. Involving community health workers strengthens trust in health care systems. Empowering community health workers enhances the community capacity to address dementia Screening promotes proactive health seeking among older adults.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Farina, N., Musyimi, C. W., Onuonga, K., & Ndetei, D. M. (2025). An evaluation of a community dementia screening program in rural Kenya: DEM‐SKY. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14513
Vancouver
Farina N, Musyimi CW, Onuonga K, Ndetei DM. An evaluation of a community dementia screening program in rural Kenya: DEM‐SKY. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.14513. PMID: 39807667.
BibTeX
@article{farina2025-39807667,
author = {Farina, Nicolas and Musyimi, Christine Wayua and Onuonga, Kevin and Ndetei, David Musyimi},
title = {{An evaluation of a community dementia screening program in rural Kenya: DEM‐SKY}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.14513},
pmid = {39807667},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14513}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- The program demonstrated good acceptability, adoption, and fidelity and was effective in instigating behavior change.
- Individuals who screened positive for dementia were 28.7 times more likely to intend to speak to a doctor.
- Qualitative data showed that participants valued the program but indicated scope for improvement, particularly further down the diagnostic pathway.
- DEM-SKY was successful across several implementation metrics.
- Although the program demonstrates that community-based screening can be conducted effectively with minimal resources, future research needs to explore the long-term benefits of dementia screening in Kenya.
Why it matters
A community dementia screening program in rural Kenya was feasible and acceptable, and people who screened positive were 28.7 times more likely to intend to speak to a doctor. The authors say future research is needed on the long-term benefits of dementia screening, so this does not show a treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author David Musyimi Ndetei: h-index 43 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Plymouth: institution h-index 463 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39807667) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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