Observational Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Clin Cases. Oct 6, 2022; 10(28): 10097-10108
Published online Oct 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i28.10097
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
Female1525 (62.4)800 (64)725 (60.8)
Male919 (37.6)451 (36)468 (39.2)
Grade
Freshman1332 (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 disease8.4660.004
Yes2179 (89.2)1093 (87.4)1086 (91.0)
No265 (10.8)158 (12.6)107 (9.0)
Interest and concern in Alzheimer’s disease31.469< 0.001
Yes2118 (86.7)1037 (82.9)1081 (90.7)
No326 (13.3)214 (17.1)112 (9.3)
Contact experience0.7700.380
Yes714 (29.2)398 (31.8)316 (26.5)
No1730 (70.8)853 (68.2)877 (73.5)
First contact (n = 714)0.1080.743
Before college263 (36.8)144 (36.2)119 (37.7)
At the time of college451 (63.2)254 (63.8)197 (62.3)
First place of contact (n = 714)0.1170.732
House 439 (61.5)242 (60.8)197 (62.3)
Other275 (38.5)156 (39.2)119 (37.7)
Experience living together 3.1750.075
Yes388 (54.3)204 (51.3)184 (58.2)
No326 (45.7)194 (48.7)132 (41.8)
Period of living together (n = 388)0.0001.000
Less than 1 yr 288 (74.2)151 (37.9)137 (43.4)
More than 1 yr100 (25.8)53 (62.1)47 (57.0)
Attitudes 0.0001.000
Positive2298 (94.0)1176 (94.0)1122 (94.0)
Negative146 (6.0)75 (6.0)71 (6.0)
Interested in participating in care16.336< 0.001
Yes864 (35.4)490 (39.2)374 (31.3)
No1580 (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 affectivity8.26 ± 2.538.26 ± 2.438.27 ± 2.630.7200.472
Negative affectivity16.31 ± 2.7916.35 ± 2.6516.27 ± 2.933.597< 0.001
External affectivity8.57 ± 2.318.73 ± 2.348.40 ± 2.27-0.0820.935
Table 4 Medical-vocational college students’ dementia knowledge as measured by the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale
QuestionNo. 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 depression2136 (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 disease987 (40.4)548 (43.8)439 (36.8)
3 After symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear, the average life expectancy is 6 to 12 yr1677 (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 agitation1908 (78.1)981 (78.4)927 (77.7)
5 People with Alzheimer’s disease do best with simple instructions given one step at a time1768 (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 away1538 (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 day1916 (78.4)968 (77.4)948 (79.5)
8 In rare cases, people have recovered from Alzheimer’s disease1312 (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 anxiety2208 (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 homes1724 (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 disease1546 (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 themselves1561 (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 care1606 (65.7)840 (67.1)766 (64.2)
17 Eventually, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will need 24 h supervision2065 (84.5)1079 (86.3)986 (82.6)
18 Having high cholesterol may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease1870 (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 disease1273 (52.1)717 (57.3)556 (46.6)
20 Symptoms of severe depression can be mistaken for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease1762 (72.1)942 (75.3)820 (68.7)
21 Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia2173 (88.9)1114 (89.0)1059 (88.8)
22 Trouble handling money or paying bills is a common early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease1649 (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 things1577 (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 decline1530 (62.6)855 (68.3)675 (56.6)
25 Prescription drugs that prevent Alzheimer’s disease are available1336 (54.7)700 (56.0)636 (53.3)
26 Having high blood pressure may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease1948 (79.7)1002 (80.1)946 (79.3)
27 Genes can only partially account for the development of Alzheimer’s disease1475 (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 times2064 (84.5)1053 (84. 2)1011 (84.7)
29 Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured1784 (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 past1458 (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 total0-3021.16 ± 3.4321.78 ± 3.8120.53 ± 2.84-9.179< 0.001
Risk factors0-63.75 ± 1.263.73 ± 1. 283.76 ± 1.28-0.0260.979
Assessment and diagnosis0-43.04 ± 0.913.13 ± 0. 952.95 ± 0.85-6.413< 0.001
Symptoms0-42.44 ± 1.032.60 ± 0.992.26 ± 1.03-7.895< 0.001
Course0-42.99 ± 0.893.07 ± 0.932.90 ± 0.84-6.088< 0.001
Caregiving0-53.43 ± 1.173.58 ± 1.213.28 ± 1.10-6.434< 0.001
Treatment and management0-43.10 ± 0.803.21 ± 0.832.98 ± 0.75-8.266< 0.001
Life impact0-32. 42 ± 0. 702. 45 ± 0. 692. 39 ± 0. 71-2.1000.979
Table 6 Factors influencing the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale score
Variables

ADKS
Z/T value
P value
Grade-6.320< 0.001
Freshman20.73 ± 3.33
Sophomore21.69 ± 3.48
Sex-2.2810.023
Female21.29 ± 3.51
Male20.97 ± 3.29
Heard about AD-3.0730.002
Yes22.08 ± 3.98
No21.06 ± 3.34
Interest and concern in AD-0.5440.586
Yes21.40 ± 4.10
No21.13 ± 3.32
Contact experienced -6.227< 0.001
Yes21.97 ± 3.64
No20.81 ± 3.28
Attitudes-4.948< 0.001
Positive21.84 ± 3.64
Negative20.74 ± 3.28
Interested in participating in care-3.0970.002
Yes21.47 ± 3.25
No21.00 ± 3.52