Nursing Students’ Knowledge Levels of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Factors

INTRODUCTION: The number of people with Alzheimer’s disease has been increasing worldwide, particularly in developing countries including Turkey. For early diagnosis, prevention, and management of Alzheimer’s disease, health professionals and particularly nurses need to have sufficient knowledge. This study was carried out to determine nursing students’ knowledge levels of Alzheimer’s disease and related factors.
METHODS: The sample of this descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of 266 nursing students from a state university. The data were collected using a personal information form and Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale between April and May 2019. Independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation test, and one-way ANOVA test were used in the statistical analysis, and the results were presented as numbers, means, medians, and percentages.
RESULTS: The mean age of the students was 20.91 ± 1.72 years, and 13.5% had a family mem-ber with Alzheimer’s disease. The students’ total Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale score was 18.00 ± 2.70. It was determined that the students’ grade (F = 4.722, P = .003) and having a family member with Alzheimer’s disease (t = 1.911, P = .051) affected their knowledge level of Alzheimer’s disease. We found that age (r = 0.087, P = .155) and sex (t = 0.131, P = .896) were not correlated with the nursing students’ knowledge level of Alzheimer’s disease.Conclusion: It was determined that the nursing students had moderate knowledge levels of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease should be included in the nursing curriculum more, and it must be aimed to increase the students’ knowledge level about Alzheimer’s disease.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was determined that the nursing students had moderate knowledge levels of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease should be included in the nursing curriculum more, and it must be aimed to increase the students’ knowledge level about Alzheimer’s disease.