|
|||||
21 September 2009 CUHK Survey Reveals Knowledge of Dementia among Health and Social Care Undergraduates in Hong Kong
Methods 321 final year undergraduates from 4 different health and social care disciplines (including medical, occupational therapy, nursing and social work) were approached. 221 questionnaires were returned on-site or by mail, yielding an overall response rate of 69%. The participants included 144 females and 73 males (4 did not disclose their gender), with an age range between 20 and 35 (Mean age = 23). Findings 2. On the prevalence rate of dementia, nearly half (46%) of the students knew that it is around 10% in persons over 70. 67% were aware that the prevalence of AD in the general population increases in proportion to the population over 65 in Hong Kong. Regarding the etiology, 55% knew that persons with a close relative who has AD have a higher risk of being afflicted. 3. However, students knew little about the treatment of dementia. More than half (65%) of the students did not know that dementia drugs cannot prevent further decline, suggesting that the majority had overestimated the therapeutic effect of pharmacological treatment for dementia. 4. In the areas of symptoms and diagnosis, medical students outperformed students from the other 3 disciplines. 63% of the medical students recognized that symptoms of depression, delirium and stroke sometimes resemble AD, whereas over 70% of the students from the other 3 disciplines did not know that symptoms of these illnesses are similar. Besides, 85% of the medical students knew that autopsy is required to confirm AD, whereas nursing (87%), social work (77%) and occupational therapy students (69%) improperly selected mental status testing or CT scan as the required procedure. 5. In managing the behavioural problems of dementia patients, 51% of the occupational therapy and 41% of the medical students recognized that wandering problem is best managed by using lockable doors. However, most of the nursing (53%) and social work (34%) students wrongly thought that expressing concerns to patients can solve the problem. Also, most of the nursing (100%), medical (90%) and occupational therapy (89%) students knew that the correct way of managing patients with difficulties in performing self-care activities is to assist them with the activity so that they can remain as independent as possible. However, only one-third of the social work students (33%) knew the answer. 6. Social work students also showed weak knowledge in accessing community resources. Only 27% of the social work students knew that patients diagnosed with AD are eligible to apply for Disability Allowance, while 24% were uncertain. (II) Self-Efficacy (III) Class Hours It is shown that correlations among class hours on dementia topics, students’ knowledge of dementia, and their competence in dementia care-giving are significant. Thus, more education can improve students’ knowledge and competence. Conclusion and Recommendations It is of concern that the social work students attained the lowest DSE and had the least hours of dementia education. Future social workers are likely to provide care for older people with dementia. It is important for them to receive adequate training in professional education. As it is shown that DSE, class hours and level of dementia knowledge are all significantly correlated, the survey suggests that social work programmes should attempt to devote more hours to teaching dementia-related knowledge. Greater exposure to relevant elderly services via placement and internship should also be encouraged. This will not only improve their dementia knowledge, but also develop the students’ competence in delivering dementia care. Furthermore, organizations offering dementia-related services can consider providing on-the-job training for fresh graduates and new staff. This would ensure service standard, enabling dementia sufferers to receive treatment plans effectively and have early access to services. Attachment (Tables 1-3)
|
|||||
