Dementia-related contact experience, attitudes, and the level of knowledge in medical vocational college students

Table 1 Demographic data of the medical-vocational college students (n = 2444), n (%)

Variables	Total	Medical major students	Medical-related major students
Specialty		1251 (51.2)	1193 (48.8)
Sex
Female	1525 (62.4)	800 (64)	725 (60.8)
Male	919 (37.6)	451 (36)	468 (39.2)
Grade
Freshman	1332 (54.5)	729 (58.3)	603 (50.5)
Sophomore	1112 (45.5)	522 (41.7)	590 (49. 5)

Table 2 Experience of medical-vocational college students contact with dementia patients

Variables		The total (n = 2444), n (%)	Medical major students (n = 1251), n (%)	Medical-related major students (n = 1193), n (%)	χ2	P value
Heard about Alzheimer’s disease					8.466	0.004
	Yes	2179 (89.2)	1093 (87.4)	1086 (91.0)
	No	265 (10.8)	158 (12.6)	107 (9.0)
Interest and concern in Alzheimer’s disease					31.469	< 0.001
	Yes	2118 (86.7)	1037 (82.9)	1081 (90.7)
	No	326 (13.3)	214 (17.1)	112 (9.3)
Contact experience					0.770	0.380
	Yes	714 (29.2)	398 (31.8)	316 (26.5)
	No	1730 (70.8)	853 (68.2)	877 (73.5)
First contact (n = 714)					0.108	0.743
	Before college	263 (36.8)	144 (36.2)	119 (37.7)
	At the time of college	451 (63.2)	254 (63.8)	197 (62.3)
First place of contact (n = 714)					0.117	0.732
	House	439 (61.5)	242 (60.8)	197 (62.3)
	Other	275 (38.5)	156 (39.2)	119 (37.7)
Experience living together					3.175	0.075
	Yes	388 (54.3)	204 (51.3)	184 (58.2)
	No	326 (45.7)	194 (48.7)	132 (41.8)
Period of living together (n = 388)					0.000	1.000
	Less than 1 yr	288 (74.2)	151 (37.9)	137 (43.4)
	More than 1 yr	100 (25.8)	53 (62.1)	47 (57.0)
Attitudes					0.000	1.000
	Positive	2298 (94.0)	1176 (94.0)	1122 (94.0)
	Negative	146 (6.0)	75 (6.0)	71 (6.0)
Interested in participating in care					16.336	< 0.001
	Yes	864 (35.4)	490 (39.2)	374 (31.3)
	No	1580 (64.4)	761 (60.8)	819 (68.7)

Table 3 Feelings and attitudes of medical-vocational college students toward dementia patients

Group	Total (n = 2444)	Medical major students (n = 1251)	Medical-related major students (n = 1193)	T value	P value
Positive affectivity	8.26 ± 2.53	8.26 ± 2.43	8.27 ± 2.63	0.720	0.472
Negative affectivity	16.31 ± 2.79	16.35 ± 2.65	16.27 ± 2.93	3.597	< 0.001
External affectivity	8.57 ± 2.31	8.73 ± 2.34	8.40 ± 2.27	-0.082	0.935

Table 4 Medical-vocational college students’ dementia knowledge as measured by the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale

Question	No. of correct answers, n (%)
	Total (n = 2444)	Medical majors (n = 1251)	Medical-related majors (n = 1193)
1 People with Alzheimer’s disease are particularly prone to depression	2136 (87. 4)	1115 (89.1)	1021 (85.6)
2 It has been scientifically proven that mental exercise can prevent a person from getting Alzheimer’s disease	987 (40.4)	548 (43.8)	439 (36.8)
3 After symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear, the average life expectancy is 6 to 12 yr	1677 (68.6)	866 (69.2)	811 (68.0)
4 When a person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes agitated, a medical examination might reveal other health problems that caused the agitation	1908 (78.1)	981 (78.4)	927 (77.7)
5 People with Alzheimer’s disease do best with simple instructions given one step at a time	1768 (72.3)	961 (76.8)	807 (67.6)
6 When people with Alzheimer’s disease begin to have difficulty taking care of themselves, caregivers should take over right away	1538 (62.9)	845 (67.5)	693 (58.1)
7 If a person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes alert and agitated at night, a good strategy is to try to make sure that the person gets plenty of physical activity during the day	1916 (78.4)	968 (77.4)	948 (79.5)
8 In rare cases, people have recovered from Alzheimer’s disease	1312 (53. 7)	736 (58.8)	576 (48.3)
9 People whose Alzheimer’s disease is not yet severe can benefit from psychotherapy for depression and anxiety	2208 (90.3)	1149 (91.8)	1059 (88.8)
10 If trouble with memory and confused thinking appears suddenly, it is likely due to Alzheimer’s disease	1589 (65.0)	879 (70.3)	710 (59.5)
11 Most people with Alzheimer’s disease live in nursing homes	1724 (70.5)	900 (71.9)	824 (69.1)
12 Poor nutrition can make the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease worse	2051 (83.9)	1059 (84. 7)	992 (83.2)
13 People in their 30s can have Alzheimer’s disease	1546 (63.3)	786 (62.8)	760 (63.7)
14 A person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes increasingly likely to fall down as the disease gets worse	2245 (91.9)	1164 (93.0)	1081 (90.6)
15 When people with Alzheimer’s disease repeat the same question or story several times, it is helpful to remind them that they are repeating themselves	1561 (63.9)	861 (68.8)	700 (58.7)
16 Once people have Alzheimer’s disease, they are no longer capable of making informed decisions about their own care	1606 (65.7)	840 (67.1)	766 (64.2)
17 Eventually, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will need 24 h supervision	2065 (84.5)	1079 (86.3)	986 (82.6)
18 Having high cholesterol may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease	1870 (76.5)	951 (76.0)	919 (77.0)
19 Tremor or shaking of the hands or arms is a common symptom in people with Alzheimer’s disease	1273 (52.1)	717 (57.3)	556 (46.6)
20 Symptoms of severe depression can be mistaken for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease	1762 (72.1)	942 (75.3)	820 (68.7)
21 Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia	2173 (88.9)	1114 (89.0)	1059 (88.8)
22 Trouble handling money or paying bills is a common early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease	1649 (67.5)	893 (71.4)	756 (63.4)
23 One symptom that can occur with Alzheimer’s disease is believing that other people are stealing one’s things	1577 (64.5)	848 (67.8)	729 (61.1)
24 When a person has Alzheimer’s disease, using reminder notes is a crutch that can contribute to decline	1530 (62.6)	855 (68.3)	675 (56.6)
25 Prescription drugs that prevent Alzheimer’s disease are available	1336 (54.7)	700 (56.0)	636 (53.3)
26 Having high blood pressure may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease	1948 (79.7)	1002 (80.1)	946 (79.3)
27 Genes can only partially account for the development of Alzheimer’s disease	1475 (60.4)	685 (54.8)	790 (66.2)
28 It is safe for people with Alzheimer’s disease to drive, as long as they have a companion in the car at all times	2064 (84.5)	1053 (84. 2)	1011 (84.7)
29 Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured	1784 (73.0)	951 (76.0)	833 (69.8)
30 Most people with Alzheimer’s disease remember recent events better than things that happened in the past	1458 (59.7)	798 (63.8)	660 (55.3)

Table 5 Students’ Alzheimer’s disease knowledge

Variables	Range of total score	Total (n = 2444)	Medical-major students (n = 1251)	Medical-related major students (n = 1193)	Z/T value	P value
ADKS total	0-30	21.16 ± 3.43	21.78 ± 3.81	20.53 ± 2.84	-9.179	< 0.001
Risk factors	0-6	3.75 ± 1.26	3.73 ± 1. 28	3.76 ± 1.28	-0.026	0.979
Assessment and diagnosis	0-4	3.04 ± 0.91	3.13 ± 0. 95	2.95 ± 0.85	-6.413	< 0.001
Symptoms	0-4	2.44 ± 1.03	2.60 ± 0.99	2.26 ± 1.03	-7.895	< 0.001
Course	0-4	2.99 ± 0.89	3.07 ± 0.93	2.90 ± 0.84	-6.088	< 0.001
Caregiving	0-5	3.43 ± 1.17	3.58 ± 1.21	3.28 ± 1.10	-6.434	< 0.001
Treatment and management	0-4	3.10 ± 0.80	3.21 ± 0.83	2.98 ± 0.75	-8.266	< 0.001
Life impact	0-3	2. 42 ± 0. 70	2. 45 ± 0. 69	2. 39 ± 0. 71	-2.100	0.979

ADKS: Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale.

Table 6 Factors influencing the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale score

Variables		ADKS	Z/T value	P value
Grade			-6.320	< 0.001
	Freshman	20.73 ± 3.33
	Sophomore	21.69 ± 3.48
Sex			-2.281	0.023
	Female	21.29 ± 3.51
	Male	20.97 ± 3.29
Heard about AD			-3.073	0.002
	Yes	22.08 ± 3.98
	No	21.06 ± 3.34
Interest and concern in AD			-0.544	0.586
	Yes	21.40 ± 4.10
	No	21.13 ± 3.32
Contact experienced			-6.227	< 0.001
	Yes	21.97 ± 3.64
	No	20.81 ± 3.28
Attitudes			-4.948	< 0.001
	Positive	21.84 ± 3.64
	Negative	20.74 ± 3.28
Interested in participating in care			-3.097	0.002
	Yes	21.47 ± 3.25
	No	21.00 ± 3.52

ADKS: Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale; AD: Alzheimer’s disease.