Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test Research Articles

Extent of and influences on knowledge of Alzheimer's disease among undergraduate medical students.

Background:Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major health problem, which is of increasing concern because of rising yearly incidence and estimated cost. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential to manage AD effectively and improve the outcomes. Inadequate knowledge can delay the diagnosis. General practitioners should play a more effective role in the identification and diagnosis of AD, and medical education is key to solving this issue.Objectives:This study aimed to assess the knowledge of undergraduate medical students and to identify the factors that influenced their knowledge.Methods:This study used a quantitative cross-sectional evaluation of 327 Saudi Arabian medical students from the first and final years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who participated in an online survey via email between March and May 2018. Knowledge of AD was assessed using the 12-item AD Knowledge Test for Health Professionals from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB ADKT). General linear models were used to identify the most significant influence on AD knowledge scores.Results:Only 10.73% of first-year and 33.33% of final-year students scored ≥ 50% on the UAB ADKT. Students pursuing specialties related to AD (adult neurology, geriatrics, or psychiatry) and students aged ≥ 27 years had higher scores (P < 0.05).Conclusion:Undergraduate medical students lacked proper knowledge of AD, suggesting that improvements in education programs can help. Future studies are needed to assess the quality and effectiveness of AD education in the curriculum of Saudi medical schools.

United States medical students’ knowledge of Alzheimer disease

Purpose:A knowledge gap exists between general physicians and specialists in diagnosing and managing Alzheimer disease (AD). This gap is concerning due to the estimated rise in prevalence of AD and cost to the health care system. Medical school is a viable avenue to decrease the gap, educating future physicians before they specialize. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge level of students in their first and final years of medical school.Methods:Fourteen participating United States medical schools used e-mail student rosters to distribute an online survey of a quantitative cross-sectional assessment of knowledge about AD; 343 students participated. Knowledge was measured using the 12-item University of Alabama at Birmingham AD Knowledge Test for Health Professionals. General linear models were used to examine the effect of demographic variables and previous experience with AD on knowledge scores.Results:Only 2.5% of first year and 68.0% of final year students correctly scored ten or more items on the knowledge scale. Personal experience with AD predicted higher knowledge scores in final year students (P= 0.027).Conclusion:Knowledge deficiencies were common in final year medical students. Future studies to identify and evaluate the efficacy of AD education programs in medical schools are warranted. Identifying and disseminating effective programs may help close the knowledge gap.

Knowledge of Dementia Among Undergraduates in the Health and Social Care Professions in Hong Kong

This study evaluated the knowledge of dementia among health and social care undergraduates in Hong Kong. The association between such knowledge and the undergraduates' self-efficacy in dementia caregiving was also studied. Dementia knowledge was assessed by a modified version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test (ADK). The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) was amended to also measure dementia-caregiving self-efficacy (DSE). Two hundred and forty-two final year undergraduates from four different health and social care disciplines participated in the study. The overall ADK score was 7.4 (SD = 3.7) out of 20, indicating a generally poor knowledge of dementia. DSE and hours of dementia education were positively correlated with knowledge of dementia. This finding suggests that self-efficacy and hours of teaching about dementia are associated with level of dementia knowledge among the future health and social care professionals.

Making sense of dementia: understanding amongst indigenous Australians

Dementia is a growing health and social concern for all Australians. Whilst the prevalence of dementia amongst Australia's indigenous people is unclear, there is some evidence that dementia rates are five times that of the general Australian population. To date no studies have examined dementia knowledge levels in indigenous communities. This paper aims to explore indigenous Australians' understanding, knowledge and misconceptions of dementia. Hundered and seventy-four indigenous adults participated in a cross-sectional survey using a modified version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test (ADK). The survey included demographic information, two open-ended questions and 20 multiple choice questions. Each ADK item was examined to identify responses that revealed commonly held correct beliefs, knowledge gaps and misconceptions. The overall level of understanding of dementia was poor. Younger participants were significantly more likely to have no knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease, whereas the other age groups were most likely to have at least some knowledge. It was also revealed that there are common misconceptions about Alzheimer's Disease held by both indigenous and non-indigenous communities. Culturally appropriate awareness campaigns and targeted educational interventions need to be implemented to improve the general level of understanding of dementia in indigenous communities.

How does the Canadian general public view moderate Alzheimer's disease? determination of health utility scores

Economic evaluations are playing an important role in decision making. Guidelines for the conduct of economic evaluations recommend eliciting preferences or health utility scores from members of the general public. The objectives of this study were to (1) To elicit health utility scores for moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) using the Canadian general public; (2) to compare utility scores for Canadians' self-assessed health status with utility scores for health status defined as moderate AD; (3) to measure awareness of AD; and (4) to determine factors that influence utility scores. Five-hundred Canadians were chosen randomly to participate in a 13-minute telephone interview. The sample was national in scope and stratified by income. The EQ-5D was administered to measure utility for respondents' current health status (i.e., no AD). After describing moderate AD, respondents were asked to answer the EQ-5D again, this time imagining they had moderate AD. AD awareness was measured with the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test (ADKT). Respondents were also asked about socio-demographics and whether they knew someone with AD. OLS regressions were conducted to identify determinants of EQ-5D utility scores. The mean age of respondents was 51 years, 61% were female, and 42% knew someone with AD (e.g., family member). Mean ADKT score was 3.4 (SD: 1.1) out of 5 (higher scores indicate better knowledge of AD). Respondents' mean EQ-5D score for their current health status was 0.857 (SD: 0.15). Mean EQ-5D score for a hypothetical, moderate AD health status was 0.638 (SD: .20), a utility decrement of 0.22. For the VAS component of the EQ-5D, scores were higher for the current health status (79.16 versus 57.66). Age and income were significant explanatory variables for current health status utilities, but only age was significant in the determination of the utility score under the assumption of moderate AD. Gender, knowledge of someone with AD, or AD awareness scores had no impact. When measured by the EQ-5D, Canadians would expect to assign a lower utility to their health status when they have moderate AD.

The Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale: development and psychometric properties.

This study provides preliminary evidence for the acceptability, reliability, and validity of the new Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), a content and psychometric update to the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test. Traditional scale development methods were used to generate items and evaluate their psychometric properties in a variety of subsamples. The final 30-item, true/false scale takes approximately 5-10 min to complete and covers risk factors, assessment and diagnosis, symptoms, course, life impact, caregiving, and treatment and management. Preliminary results suggest that the ADKS has adequate reliability (test-retest and internal consistency) and validity (content, predictive, concurrent, and convergent). The ADKS is designed for use in both applied and research contexts, capable of assessing knowledge about Alzheimer's disease among laypeople, patients, caregivers, and professionals.

Knowledge of memory aging and Alzheimer's disease in college students and mental health professionals

In this study, college students and mental health professionals completed the Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire, Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test and the Fraboni Scale of Ageism before and after a lecture on normal and pathological memory issues in adulthood. Results confirmed that professionals were more knowledgeable about memory aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and less ageist than college students. Analyses of pre- and post-lecture response accuracy yielded comparable benefits in memory aging and AD knowledge for both groups. Correlation analyses provided modest evidence for the influence of ageist attitudes on the knowledge measures. Implications for memory education programs and psychology curriculum are considered.

Knowledge about Aging and Alzheimer Disease: A Comparison of Professional Caregivers and Noncaregivers

This study assessed professional caregivers of persons with Alzheimer disease (AD) and non-caregivers' knowledge about aging and AD. Participants completed modified versions of the Alzheimer Disease Knowledge Test and the multiple-choice version of the Facts on Aging Quiz #1. Overall, knowledge levels about AD and aging were low. Caregivers were found to be more knowledgeable about AD than were noncaregivers (58% and 42% correct, respectively), but these groups did not differ on knowledge about aging (40% and 39% correct, respectively). The most common misconceptions and areas of ignorance on the two tests demonstrate that participants rely on age stereotypes.

Attitudes towards the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease among carers and non-carers

This article provides some preliminary data on preferences among non-carer older adults regarding disclosure of Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis, and compares these preferences to those of carers of people with AD (AD carers). Reasons underlying disclosure preference among carers and non-AD carers are investigated. The authors then explore the level of AD knowledge among carer and non-carer samples and investigate its relationship with disclosure preferences. Participants were 20 elderly adults (aged 60–88 years) who were not caring for a relative with AD and 16 older adults (aged 51–79 years) who were caring for a relative with AD and who had attended a carer education programme. Participants completed a modified AD knowledge test and a test designed to measure the reasons for and against disclosure of an AD diagnosis. AD knowledge among AD carers was significantly higher than that among non-carers. Views about disclosure of AD diagnoses did not differ between groups and generally, opinions were for disclosure. No significant differences were found when preferences for disclosure for oneself vs a significant other were compared. Similar reasons for disclosure were given by carers and non-carers, and included factors such as the person's right to know his or her diagnosis.

A confidence interval analysis of three studies using the Alzheimer's disease knowledge test

It has been suggested that community awareness of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has increased over recent years. This claim has been difficult to evaluate given the lack of systematic research in this area however, despite some recent attempts at monitoring changes in knowledge about AD. To address the question of change in awareness about AD, the present study compared results from three studies that have investigated the level of AD knowledge among undergraduate students, using confidence intervals. Consistent with previous findings, the results of this study suggest that more recent cohorts of undergraduate students are more knowledgeable about some aspects of AD, although to an extent that is much less marked than previously thought. Importantly, there are also a number of areas in which there appears to have been little or no change in community awareness about AD, and these are highlighted as issues that may need to be specifically addressed as part of future carer education programs.

OUTCOME OF A PILOT DEMENTIA TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS

An intensive workshop on the management of Alzheimer's disease was implemented to train primary care physicians in the diagnosis and long‐term care management of patients with dementia and to provide communities with a professional source of information on dementia issues. Before enrollment in the workshop, all participants were asked to commit to training their community physicians and health care providers in local educational activities on dementia. Effectiveness of the workshop was assessed with a pre‐ and a postworkshop questionnaire and postworkshop telephone interviews. Twenty‐eight primary care physicians attended: 25% were internists and 71% were family practitioners. Thirty‐three percent practiced in rural communities, and 32% were nursing home directors. Twenty‐one participants completed questionnaire pretesting, and fourteen completed posttesting. Seventeen responded to a 6‐month postworkshop telephone interview. Forty‐one percent of respondents had used resource materials in didactic sessions with physicians and other health care providers in their own communities. All participants interviewed described greater comfort in patient education settings, such as nursing home team conferences, family meetings, and counseling sessions. Participants showed some gains in knowledge about available community resources and their use. There was no difference in pretest and posttest Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test scores. Intensive workshops appear to be an effective and efficient means of disseminating geriatric training to primary care physicians and community health care providers.

Knowledge about Alzheimer disease among primary care physicians, psychologists, nurses, and social workers.

Although much of the care of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients and their families is carried out by health professionals who are not specialists in AD or geriatrics, little is known about how knowledgeable these health professionals are about AD. An AD knowledge test was constructed through careful instrument development procedures and then administered through a mail survey. Subjects were 693 individuals, including experts in AD care, generalist health care professionals (primary care physicians, psychologists, social workers, and nurses), nursing students, hospital staff nurses, and assorted health professionals. A 12-item scale with excellent psychometric properties was developed. Experts in AD care performed significantly better than generalist health care professionals on all items. All four groups of generalist health care professionals showed important deficits in fundamental knowledge about AD; for example, only 40% of generalists (vs. 97% of experts) knew that AD is the most common cause of severe memory loss in people over age 65. Results suggest that, although knowledge about assessment and management of AD has increased and has been widely disseminated, many health care professionals remain uninformed about AD. Suggestions for professional education and for use of the UAB AD Knowledge Test for Health Professionals are discussed.

A study of two dementia quizzes.

A dementia quiz was developed to assess carers' and professionals' knowledge about dementia, services needed by dementia sufferers and their families, and methods of coping with some of the problems presented by people with dementia. The quiz was compared with a UK version of Dieckmann, Zarit, Zarit & Gatz's (1988) Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test, one of only two published tests assessing knowledge about dementia. Both measures were given to samples of carers and professionals who were either members or non-members of Alzheimer's Disease Society. The responses were analysed to determine the reliability and validity of the new Dementia Quiz. The results were encouraging and the quiz should prove useful in teaching, clinical and research settings.

Efficacy of a support group programme for care-givers of demented patients in the community: a randomized controlled trial

Dementia induces morbidity not only in the patients but also in the families taking care of them. Many studies described the impact of care-giving on physical and psychological health. Support groups were designed to alleviate the burden of care-givers. The objective of this study was to measure the efficacy of a support group programme for care-givers of demented patients in the community. Forty-one primary care-givers were randomly assigned to a study ( n = 23) or a control group ( n = 18). Subjects of the study group attended a structured programme of eight 2-h sessions. These weekly sessions consisted of information on the disease, role-playing on management of behavior problems, discussion on emotional impact of care-giving, and learning of stress management techniques. Subjects of the control group were referred to informal monthly meetings of the Alzheimer's Society. Subjects of both groups were evaluated at the entry (T1), after 8 weeks (T2) and after 8 months (T3). The outcome variables were the Burden Interview, the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist, the Brief Symptoms Inventory, the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test and a questionnaire on health care utilization. Compared with the control group, subjects of the study group yielded only a significant increase in knowledge about the disease ( P < 0.0001) but no significant difference on the other outcome variables. It is concluded that this type of support group programme seems to have only a minimal impact on morbidity and on the burden of care-givers. These results are similar with two other studies examining the same issue.

Fidélité de la traduction française de trois instruments d'évaluation des aidants naturels de malades déments

ABSTRACTCaregivers of demented patients are under significant stress along with physical, psychological or social problems. Standardized and validated instruments are required for measuring consequences of caregiving or efficacy of support interventions. Reliability of French translation of these instruments has to be verified in order to confirm their psychometric properties. The goal of the present study is to assess reliability of the French translation of three instruments designed for evaluation of caregivers of demented patients. The Zarit's Burden Interview (BI) is a 22-items scale measuring the subjective burden of the caregiver. The Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC), a 53 item scale, measures frequency of memory and behaviour problems of demented patients and the caregiver's reaction to these problems, which is another mean of burden assessment. The Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test (ADKT) assesses knowledge of caregivers about demented diseases and resources available using 20 multiple choice questions. A reliability study was conducted on a sample of 40 caregivers. The caregivers were questioned twice, the second time after one (N = 26) or eight (N = 14) weeks. The BI internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) yielded a coefficient of 0.85 and test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient) was 0.89. The RMBPC's Cronbach Alpha was 0.93 for frequency and 0.94 for reaction. Intra-class correlation coefficients were 0.77 (frequency) and 0.90 (reaction) for RMBPC and 0.71 for ADKT.