An Assessment of Dementia Knowledge and Its Associated Factors Among Health College Students in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

BackgroundDementia is a public health concern and the main cause of impairment and dependency among the elderly worldwide. It is characterized by a progressive decline in cognition, memory, and all domains of quality of life with preserving the level of consciousness. Accurate measurement of dementia knowledge among future health professionals is required to improve targeted educational initiatives and supportive care of patients. This study aimed to assess knowledge of dementia and its associated factors among health college students in Saudi Arabia. MethodsA descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among health college students from various regions in Saudi Arabia. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and dementia knowledge were gathered using a standardized study questionnaire Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) distributed on different social media platforms. Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) statistical software. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. ResultsA total of 1,613 participants were included in the study. The mean age was 20.5 ± 2.5 years (range 18-25 years). The majority of them were males (64.9%), and females represented 35.1%. The mean knowledge score of the participants was 13.68 ± 3.18 (out of 25). According to DKAS subscales, we found that the respondents scored the highest in care considerations (4.17 ± 1.30) and the lowest in risks and health promotion (2.89 ± 1.96). Furthermore, we found that the participants with no previous dementia exposure had a significantly higher level of knowledge than those with previous dementia exposure. In addition, we found that both genders, aged 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 years; the geographic distribution of respondents; and previous dementia exposure significantly affected the DKAS score. ConclusionsOur findings showed that health college students in Saudi Arabia had poor knowledge about dementia. Ongoing health education and comprehensive academic training are recommended to improve their knowledge and provide competent care for dementia patients.

Dementia Knowledge Among Primary Healthcare Physicians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…Notably, our findings align with previous research from Saudi Arabia and nearby countries, collectively underscoring significant knowledge deficits related to dementia among healthcare professionals in the region. Aldharman et al reported a mean knowledge score of only 13.68 out of 25 among health college students in Saudi Arabia [ 11 ]. Similarly, Al-Awad et al found that while primary care physicians had a positive attitude toward dementia care, their mean knowledge score was a suboptimal 36.4 out of 50 [ 17 ].…”

“…Aldharman et al reported that the majority of the participants demonstrated a poor level of knowledge about dementia. The mean knowledge score was 13.68 ± 3.18 (on a scale of 25) [ 11 ].…”

The Latest Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia

“…For example, a systemic review showed that there was a greater incidence in Latin America (8.5%) and a noticeably lower incidence in the four sub-Saharan African regions (2-4%) [11]. Similarly, a crosssectional study from Saudi Arabia that included 1613 participants showed that 16.6% of older individuals were suffering from dementia [6].…”

“…However, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the underlying etiology in approximately 70% of all cases [5]. Other causes of dementia include Lewy body disease, traumatic brain injury, vascular disease, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration [6].…”

“…With the growing population of individuals over 65, the number of dementia patients is expected to increase in the future [5]. Additionally, the prevalence of dementia has been linked to socioeconomic status and culture, with a higher occurrence seen in countries with lower and middle incomes [3,6].…”