Co‐design and user‐testing outcomes of a dementia risk reduction education program for multicultural communities in Australia, the MindCare program

Abstract

Background

Current dementia prevention programs largely target Western populations, overlooking multicultural communities and exacerbating health disparities. In Australia, where over 30% of the population is overseas‐born, the MindCare project aims to co‐develop a culturally tailored dementia prevention program for Hindi, Vietnamese, Greek, and Arabic‐speaking communities.

Method

Using co‐design methodologies, the program incorporated the nominal group technique for cultural adaptation workshops and individual consultations. The Think‐Aloud method was then applied during user testing to obtain final feedback to finalize materials.

Result

The initial MindCare prototype, based on the Lancet Commission: Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care report, was refined through six workshops with 37 participants from target communities, experts, and service providers. Iterative adjustments improved flow, language, visuals, and transitions, with key changes addressing stigma, dietary guidance, and content sequencing.

The program was then culturally‐tailored and translated into four bilingual versions (target languages and English) through seven cultural‐adaptation workshops and 10 consultations with 50 participants. The adaptations integrated culturally specific foods, activities, and practices. Striking a balance between evidence‐based content and community preferences required negotiation in some groups, however consensus was achieved in most cases.

User testing (n = 3 per language, total n = 12) rendered minor feedback to simplify presenter notes, reduce activities, and extend break times. These insights led to 15 adjustments in the final program. Participants liked the overall layout and aesthetics of the program and found materials to be culturally sensitive, engaging, and well‐balanced in active and passive learning ratio.

Conclusion

The rigorous co‐design process which involved close collaboration with nearly 100 participants from the target communities, experts, and key services ensured the programs met diverse cultural needs while maintaining evidence‐based rigor. The process of co‐designing MindCare was far from linear and required flexibility, and iterative feedback cycles, however, this has been key to the delivery of four culturally‐tailored community‐education programs. The final MindCare programs will be evaluated through a national randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 2025. Upon trial completion, MindCare programs will be freely available online, offering an impactful dementia prevention education resource for multicultural communities in Australia, with scope for further adaption for use in other languages or countries.